Stunning capital of Xia Dynasty unearthed ( 2003-11-11 10:26) (China.org.cn)
Chinese archaeologists
recently found a large-scale building foundation in Erlitou Ruins of Yanshi,
central China's Henan Province, which belongs to the later period of Xia
Dynasty. The discovery, the first of its kind in China, again excited the
archaeological field after the heated discussion on the division of Xia and
Shang dynasties.
"The site causes great concern because it was founded at the key moment when
the Xia Dynasty (c. 2100 BC - c. 1600 BC) was replaced by the Shang Dynasty (c.
1600 BC - c. 1100 BC)," said Dr. Xu Hong, head of the Erlitou Archaeological
Team under the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. "Was it built by people of
the Xia or the Shang? Further excavation will help find the final resolution and
provide new materials for periodization of the two dynasties."
Erlitou Ruins, a new mystery
The Erlitou Ruins were discovered by Chinese scholars in
their field research of Xia culture. In the following 40 years?ˉ outdoor
excavation, they obtained rich relics and references. As a result, the Erlitou
Ruins were confirmed as the ruins of an important capital existing between the
Xia and Shang dynasties. The first-hand information and scientific materials
laid a solid foundation for the research of Xia culture. Meanwhile, since its
discovery, disputes about it have never ended.
Situated in the central area of the Xia Dynasty as shown in historical
records chronologized as in the Xia Dynasty, the Erlitou Ruins naturally became
a key site in the exploration of the Xia culture as well as the division between
Xia and Shang dynasties. The question remaining is whether it is a Xia-dynasty
capital or the Shang capital Xibo.
Disputes also center on the nature of the Erlitou culture. Some think it
featured Xia culture in early period and Shang culture in later period, while
others believe it was of pure Xia culture.
After the periodization of the Xia, Shang and Zhou (c. 1100 BC - 221 BC) was
completed, more and more experts tended to believe Erlitou was a site of Xia
ruins and it once served as the capital during the dynasty?ˉs middle and later
periods.
"This means people can almost touch the pulse of China's first dynasty. I say
'almost' because many mysteries about the Erlitou Ruins remain unsolved," Dr. Xu
Hong said. "We've got only an outline of the information it has provided, such
as the internal layout, evolution process, culture, social life, organizational
structure and ethnics, of this capital."
"The final solution to the mysteries of Erlitou culture and Xia culture still
depends on more historical witnesses, such as the creation of characters," Xu
said. "With further investigation, excavation and research on the Erlitou Ruins,
people will better understand the significance of the ruins in exploring the
source of Chinese culture, Chinese early civilization and formation of state."
Palace complex: the earliest ever
found
Under the No.2 site of Erlitou Ruins, which is the
foundation of a large-scale palace complex, archaeologists recently discovered a
new site of rammed earth, which indicates an earlier, larger and more
complicated structure once existed there. It pushes the age of China earliest
palace complex back 100 years.
According to Dr. Xu Hong, the site, encoded No.3, should belong to
early-period Erlitou culture. To date, it has been confirmed that the structure
was about 150 meters long, and its major body comprises at least three
courtyards.
Before the discovery, archaeologists believed the No.1 and No.2 sites of
Erlitou were the earliest large-scale palaces in China, leading to the
conclusion that the early period palace was simple in structure and usually had
one gate and one courtyard. The excavation of No.3 site, however, made them
change minds.
The Erlitou Ruins, dating back 3,850-3,550 years, were found in 1959. As
early as in 1978, archaeologists had noticed large-scale rammed earth under the
No.2 palace site and decided to explore its scale, structure and date. In recent
years, the Erlitou Archaeological Team has focused their field work on early
buildings of Erlitou and its relationship with later buildings. Since autumn
2001, more than 3,000 square meters have been excavated.
The result is the discovery of the more complicated No.3 and No.5 palace
sites, which sit side by side, one in the east, the other in the west. Under the
passageway between them, there is a 100-meter-long wooden-structured drainage
culvert.
In the middle and south courtyards of No.3 site, archaeologists also found
rows of medium-sized tombs, of which five have been cleaned up. All of the tombs
are paved with cinnabar and traces of coffins can still be seen. Burial articles
unearthed include bronze, jade, lacquer and white pottery ware as well as glazed
pottery inlayed with turquoise and artifacts made from seashells. Many items,
such as white pottery in shape of wide-rimmed bamboo hat, jade ornament looking
like a bird's head, large vessel inlayed with turquoise and ornament composed of
nearly 100 gear-like holed clams, had never been seen before.
The discovery of the tombs with so many aristocrats is of great significance
to the study of the nature of No.3 site and the burial ceremonies of the Erlitou
culture.
Basic structure of Erlitou made
clear
In the past half a century, Chinese archaeologists have
dedicated themselves to seeking relics of the Xia Dynasty and their work centers
on western Henan Province. Historical records show the western part of Henan
Province was the central area for activities in the Xia Dynasty. In 1959,
historian Xu Xusheng found the large ruins of Erlitou in Yanshi of western Henan
Province. Since then, three generations of archaeologists have conducted more
than 40 excavations.
Research proves this was the largest living community in China and even in
East Asia in the first half of c. 2000 BC. It boasted the earliest palace
building group of China, earliest bronze sacrificial vessel group and earliest
bronze smelting workshop. It is the earliest capital city which can be confirmed
to date.
Dr. Xu Hong, head of the Erlitou Archaeological Team under the Chinese
Academy of Social Sciences, stresses the academic significance of the work: it
helps better understand the nature of Erlitou Ruins as a capital, the emergence
of city, and the early form of state.
The palaces in the Erlitou Ruins had three avenues: the one in the east was
nearly 700 meters long, the other two in the north and south were over 300
meters each, with a distance of 400 meters between them. Also, several paths
were discovered in the palace area. Between No.1 and No.2 sites, large areas of
earth, hundreds square meters of pebble and some rammed-earth foundations were
found.
The latest exploration and excavation show the palace ruins were distributed
in a northwest-southeast trend along the ancient Yiluo River. The longest
distance from east to west was 2,400 meters, and that from north to south, 1,900
meters. The northern part of it had been damaged by the Luohe River, with only a
three-square-kilometer area left. The most important part was the highland in
the southeast, with palace foundation ruins, bronze smelting workshop ruins and
medium-sized tombs. The western part of it was relatively low and used to be
common residential areas. On the edge of the eastern part a ditch extending 500
meters intermittently was found. It was believed to be a ditch providing earth
for construction or pottery making in the past. Also, it formed the eastern
border of the palace.
Background: Journey into the Xia
Dynasty
Erlitou is a common village on the northern bank of the
Luohe River, Henan Province. Few has known it was the location of the capital of
China's first dynasty, Xia between c.1900 BC to c. 1600 BC. It witnessed the
prosperity of the Xia and the transmission from the Xia to the Shang. However,
the memory about the Chinese nation seemed to dim from people's mind and some
even doubted if there had been such a brilliance.
In the 20th century, the discovery of inscriptions on tortoise shells or
animal bones and excavation of the Yin Ruins of Anyang proved the existence of
the Shang Dynasty. This greatly encouraged Chinese scholars, who hoped to
restore the real appearance of the Xia Dynasty by seeking relevant relics.
Since Erlitou was discovered by Xu Xusheng and his archaeological team in
1959, Chinese archaeologists have entered a new stage in the exploration of the
Xia culture.
The continuous excavation brought to light ruins of large-scale palace
foundations, large-scale bronze smelting workshop, pottery making and bone
article workshops as well as buildings related to religious sacrifice, 400
tombs, sets of bronze and jade sacrificial vessels. All these have proven
Erlitou was the earliest capital ever founded in China.
Along with new discoveries, the disputes over Xia culture and the division of
the Xia and Shang dynasties have heated up again, attracting both domestic and
overseas scholars. The periodization of the Xia, Shang and Zhou dynasties
greatly promoted the study of Xia culture. The initial building of the Shang
city in Yanshi has been confirmed as a boundary mark between the Xia and Shang
dynasties, and Erlitou Ruins, a capital of the Xia Dynasty. More and more
scholars begin to accept the view that the mainstay of Erlitou culture was Xia
culture.
Now the exploration on the source of Chinese civilization and Xia culture is
still going on. Dr. Xu Hong, as well as other scholars devoted to this study, is
fully confident of the future: "The discovery of the Yin Ruins astounded the
world in the 20th century. We believe the Erlitou Ruins will lead the study of
Chinese ancient civilization to a new stage in the 21st
century."
The Erlitou Ruins were discovered by Chinese scholars in
their field research of Xia culture. In the following 40 years?ˉ outdoor
excavation, they obtained rich relics and references. As a result, the Erlitou
Ruins were confirmed as the ruins of an important capital existing between the
Xia and Shang dynasties. The first-hand information and scientific materials
laid a solid foundation for the research of Xia culture. Meanwhile, since its
discovery, disputes about it have never ended.
Under the No.2 site of Erlitou Ruins, which is the
foundation of a large-scale palace complex, archaeologists recently discovered a
new site of rammed earth, which indicates an earlier, larger and more
complicated structure once existed there. It pushes the age of China earliest
palace complex back 100 years.
In the past half a century, Chinese archaeologists have
dedicated themselves to seeking relics of the Xia Dynasty and their work centers
on western Henan Province. Historical records show the western part of Henan
Province was the central area for activities in the Xia Dynasty. In 1959,
historian Xu Xusheng found the large ruins of Erlitou in Yanshi of western Henan
Province. Since then, three generations of archaeologists have conducted more
than 40 excavations.
Erlitou is a common village on the northern bank of the
Luohe River, Henan Province. Few has known it was the location of the capital of
China's first dynasty, Xia between c.1900 BC to c. 1600 BC. It witnessed the
prosperity of the Xia and the transmission from the Xia to the Shang. However,
the memory about the Chinese nation seemed to dim from people's mind and some
even doubted if there had been such a brilliance.
