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Sanxingdui
Relics
The
site of Sanxingdui, located in the city
of Guanghan, 40 km from Chengdu, Sichuan
Province, is recognized as one of the most
important ancient remains in the world for
its vast size, lengthy period and enriched
cultural contents.
The first Sanxingdui relics
were discovered by a farmer in 1929 and
excavation has continued ever since. During
this period, generations of archaeologists
have worked on the discovery and research
of the Sanxingdui culture. In 1986, two
major sacrificial pits were found and they
aroused widespread academic attention around
the world.
The
Sanxingdui finds are exciting, but they
remain enigmatic. No texts have been found,
nor is there any mention of this culture
in the records of other countries. Analysis
of lead and other elements in the bronzes
indicates sources similar to those of other
cultures along the lower reaches of the
Yangtze River. At this point, however, the
unique culture that produced these artifacts
remains a mystery.
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