Sanxingdui is an ancient archaeological site located in the Sichuan Basin of China, approximately 40 km north of Chengdu. It is an important discovery that challenges the traditional narrative of Chinese civilization. Before the year 316 BCE, the Sichuan Basin was considered to be isolated from the Bronze Age civilization centered in the Yellow River basin in the northeast.

The discovery of Sanxingdui in 1987 came as a major surprise, as it revealed a previously unknown and sophisticated culture in Neolithic China. The site is believed to have been the center of a fairly extensive kingdom dating back to approximately 2050–1250 BCE. Archaeologists suggest that this culture was associated with the Shu kingdom.

The artifacts found at Sanxingdui are housed in the Sanxingdui Museum, located near the city of Guanghan. The discoveries at Sanxingdui have sparked significant scholarly interest, with the bronze artifacts being particularly noteworthy. Some experts, like Task Rosen of the British Museum, have regarded these bronze artifacts as more outstanding than the famous Terracotta Army found in Xi’an.

Some notable artifacts discovered at Sanxingdui include the following four.

1. A large bronze head with protruding eyes that some believe to be a depiction of Cancong, the semi-legendary first king of Shu.
2. A bronze head (height 27 cm) dating back to the thirteenth or twelfth century BCE, excavated from Pit 1 at Sanxingdui.
3. An upright bronze figure representing a religious official.
4. The Sanxingdui Gold Mask, which was excavated in 2021.

These artifacts have provided valuable insights into the ancient culture of Sanxingdui and have raised new questions about the connections between different ancient Chinese civilizations. The discovery of Sanxingdui has been a significant contribution to the field of archaeology and the understanding of China’s ancient past. Click the following links to learn more about Sanxingdui.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=teCKq6AJtP8

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xk7VwVjuWNI