The second stage, between 5,200 and 4,300 years ago, along with the famous city of Liangzhu in eastern China’s Zhejiang Province, witnessed greater social differentiation and increased mobilization of social resources.
Wang Ningyuan, a researcher at the Zhejiang Provincial Institute of Archeology and Cultural Relics, told the Global Times that in the past three years, the archaeological paintings at the Liangzhu site have focused on the water conservation formula. Nearly 20 new dams have been discovered on the outskirts of Liangzhu, north of Mount Tangshan, and signs of dams have been discovered in more remote areas. The C14 dating places them around 5,000 years ago and they are part of the same formula as the 11 existing dams.
The third stage, between 4,300 and 3,800 years ago, established an ancient trend centered on the central plains, laying the foundation for China’s ancient development.
Researchers estimate that 3,800 years ago China entered the era of dynasties, with major advances in archaeological paintings at the Erlitou and Sanxingdui ruin sites. The site of Erlitou, in the central province of Henan, corresponds to the Xia and Shang dynasties (c. 2070 BC). A. D. -1046 B. C. D. C. ) in ancient documents, revealing a structured urban layout indicating a mature and orderly social hierarchy, a sign of the transition to a dynastic state.
A significant breakthrough includes the recent excavation and cleaning of six sacrificial pits and the recovery of over 12,000 artifacts (including 2,300 complete items). Research indicates that the burial ages of the eight sacrificial pits were concentrated around the late Shang and early Zhou periods, approximately 3,100 to3,000 years ago.
“Ancient people carefully chose the location of sacrificial pits, opting for elevated areas along the southern riverbank at the site,” Chang Huaiying, a research fellow at the Archaeological Research Institute of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, told the Global Times on Saturday, adding that the unearthed artifacts, such as divine trees and gold masks, displaying distinctive features of the ancient state of Shu, were likely locally produced, but specific details require further research and verification.
Another highlight of the exploration task is the integration of disciplines at the main sites, integrating time series samples, environmental reconstruction, remote sensing, and collaborative examination of animal and plant remains.
For example, collaborative studies involving animal archaeology, plant archaeology, environmental archaeology, solid isotope analysis, and ancient DNA analysis, reveal significant regional differences in subsistence economies over the past 7,000 years, in which the central plains and northern regions exhibit a combined agricultural production system. ruled by millet and supplemented with wheat, soybeans and rice.
Looking ahead, NCHA plans to further advance and deepen the national project, combining archaeology, desk research, and clinical methods. This holistic technique aims to answer key questions related to the origin, formation, and progression of Chinese civilization, offering a comprehensive view of its evolution across regions and periods.
After the conference, the NCHA announced that a China Before China documentary series will air on Saturday on Shanghai’s Dragon TV, consisting of 8 episodes.
Based on the achievements of the Civilization Research Project and archaeological research, the series tells the story of the unified formation of the Chinese country and the genesis of Chinese civilization, visually tracing the ancient origins and cultural underpinnings, the NCHA said.
Read more: https://www. globaltimes. cn/page/202312/1303315. shtml
SOURCE World Times