Archaeologists examining the sacrifice pits in a 3000-year-old Chinese ruin have uncovered a treasure consisting of nearly 2000 relics of the highest cultural significance. However, the rarest artifacts in this Chinese treasure are two golden masks and a massive bronze figure. These are considered so important that the site has applied for UNESCO World Heritage status.

Sanxingdui

The ruins of Sanxingdui in the southwestern Chinese province of Sichuan are not only the most famous archaeological discovery in China, but also "in the world" according to a recent article in the Global Times. The Sanxingdui site, first discovered in 1929, is the largest elite site ever found in the Sichuan basin.

Archaeologists who have studied ancient sacrifice pits have discovered a Chinese treasure of incalculable value, including hundreds of ivory and bronze artifacts, gold masks and a massive bronze statue of a god that is so significant that the entire site could gain World Heritage status.

Golden masks from Sanxingdui

The highlight of the latest finds is the golden mask, which was discovered in one of the sacrificial pits in mid-June this year. When it appeared, it looked like a piece of crumpled paper and its shape was hard to tell. However, after a week of restoration work, a stunning artifact was discovered.

Golden mask before restoration. (Global Times)

The gold mask weighs about 100 grams (0,22 pounds). Archaeologists believe that sometime in the past it may have been part of a larger bronze head. The mask is 37,2 cm wide and 16,5 cm high, and according to the Xinhua agency, it is the most complete gold mask found in Sanxingdui.

Sichuan Provincial Research Institute of Cultural Monuments and Archeology Ran Honglin says the mask depicts "the 'god' of all Sanxingdui worshipers" and "the features and size of the gold foil mask are similar to those of previously discovered bronze heads. We believe that the mask was used to cover the bronze head, not as a separate artifact. "

This mask joins another partially destroyed golden mask that stunned the world in March. It is estimated to be 84% gold and measures 23 cm in width, 28 cm in height and weighs about 280 g. The mask inspired a number of videos in her honor and has become a popular meme. It also stimulated the theory…

The mask was considered so unique and with such strange facial features that some people began to believe that the area was once inhabited by aliens. Wang Wei, director of the Archaeological Institute of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, refuted this claim by saying:

Sanxingdui was by no means an alien civilization. These masks with wide open eyes look exaggerated because their creators wanted to imitate the appearance of deities. They were not meant to be the appearance of ordinary people. "

A partially destroyed golden mask discovered in a sacrificial pit in the ruins of Sanxingdui. (LAODONG)

Chinese treasure: Ivory, bronze, gold and jade

The finds in Sanxingdui, dating to the Xia dynasties (ca. 2 BC - 070 BC) and Shang (ca. 1 BC - 600 BC), have been used in animated films, several documentaries, books and computer games.

Over the years, hundreds of significant cultural artifacts made of ivory, bronze, gold and jade have been discovered in the locality. In addition, approximately 2 broken relics were found in a series of six sacrificial pits.

A well-preserved jade knife found in Sanxingdui. (Xinhua)

Chang Fei, director of the Cultural Heritage Research Institute, told Xinhua that "the new discoveries once again prove that the imagination and creativity of the ancient Chinese far exceeded our expectations."

As if this priceless Chinese treasure was not enough for one year, "3 meters high, 1,15-year-old bronze figure with zun (ancient wine vessel) on his head" was discovered in Pit No. 3000. According to the Global Times, this single artifact is described as an "unprecedented cultural monument" worldwide.

This bronze statuette with a "zun" drinking vessel on its head is considered so important that it claims UNESCO World Heritage status. (CCTV)

Lessons from a sacred bronze statue with a dragon zun vessel

In May, all ivory relics were removed from the pits and the team focused only on the rare bronze statue. The upper part consists of a 55 cm high bronze drinking vessel - zun - with a wide mouth and a dragon-shaped decoration. The lower part is a 60 cm high kneeling figure, holding an object in his hands.

Other bronze-made relics were found buried under a layer of ivory. Dr. Tang told CCTV that these bronze figures reflected "victims in the spiritual world of the ancient Shu civilization." For this reason, he finds the statuette's find a "cultural monument at the level of the national treasure."

In the summer, a kneeling bronze figure with his head was discovered in the ruins of Sanxingdui. (Xinhua)

Archaeologists already know that excavations of these sacrificial pits in the Sanxingdui ruins have known that members of the ancient dynasty votely sacrificed fine silk, Tang said.

In the footsteps of the origin of Chinese relic producers

The Sanxingdui civilization was located in the outskirts of Huaxia and was already associated with the cultures of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau in the Neolithic. Later, the area was connected to the ancient Silk Road in the northwest, and therefore was connected to the Chinese coast.

Dr. Tang says that the ancient civilization of Sanxingdui has the features of "integration of Eastern and Western civilization." He also assumes that this culture was most likely based on the traditional civilization of the Central Plains and its important Bashu culture. It was also influenced by other ancient civilizations that surrounded it.

CNN reports that several artifacts found in Sanxingdui are now on display at a local museum as excavations in the two pits continue. Although Sanxingdui has not yet been recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, it is on the organization's "preliminary list" and its nomination will be assessed.

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