Archaeologists have discovered over 500 items, including gold ceremonial masks believed to be 3,000 years old. These masks were possibly worn by priests and used in sacrificial rituals. The artifacts were excavated from six rectangular pits.
Archaeologists have unearthed priceless cultural relics at the Sanduigui archaeological site in the province of Sichuan, southwest China. These relics include bird-shaped ornaments, two types of silk, and a bronze statue adorned with depictions of ‘beasts’.
Only about half of the gold mask remains fully intact, but experts estimate that it is approximately 84 percent pure gold and originally weighed close to 500 grams (one pound). Another gold mask, discovered in sacrificial pit ‘number three,’ shares a similar design but is remarkably well-preserved and almost entirely intact.
Since beginning excavation work at the site in 2019, researchers have revealed that most of the 500 items discovered were crafted from gold, bronze, jade, and ivory, as reported by the South China Morning Post. They speculate that the pits may have been used for sacrificial purposes by an unidentified civilization, and the objects found within them were ritually burned before burial.
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Archaeologists have uncovered a gold mask at sacrificial pit ‘number three’ within the Saixiandui Ruins site in Sichuan Province, southwest China.
An intact and well-preserved gold mask has been discovered at sacrificial pit ‘number three’ within the Saixiandui Ruins. The government of Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan Province in southwest China, shared these findings in a blog post. Saixiandui is a renowned archaeological site and a popular tourist destination near Chengdu.
The gold mask, along with other exciting new discoveries, is expected to deepen our understanding of the cultural connections between the Chengdu Plain and its surrounding areas, according to officials. However, much mystery still surrounds the purpose of the gold mask.
An unnamed expert mentioned in the blog post stated, “Currently, it is inferred that this gold mask was also used for sacrificial purposes, but due to its larger size compared to a human face, it is unlikely to have been worn by a person.”
This gold mask, captured in the ruins, was one of over 500 artifacts unearthed at the prehistoric Saixiandui site, a renowned archaeological site and popular tourist destination located outside the city of Chengdu.
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This photo, taken on September 2, 2021, showcases a section of a bronze altar discovered at sacrificial pit number eight within the Saixiandui Ruins site.
At present, it is still premature to draw definitive conclusions, and further archaeological excavations are necessary.
If the complete weight of this gold mask exceeds 500 grams, it would become the largest gold mask ever found in China and the heaviest gold object discovered in the country.
The mask was found in pit number five out of six, while excavation is currently underway in pits seven and eight, which may reveal the other half.
In sacrificial pit number three, archaeologists unearthed a rare, well-preserved, and exquisitely decorated bronze square statue known as ‘Big Mouth.’
Saixiandui is a renowned archaeological site and a popular tourist destination located outside the city of Chengdu in Sichuan Province.
Depicted in the image is ‘Big Mouth,’ a two-foot-tall bronze statue representing a typical southern style of the late Shang Dynasty, which reigned during the second millennium BC and marked the Bronze Age in China. The statue is adorned with animal and bird heads.
According to the Chengdu government’s post, this square bronze statue, in its complete form, has never been observed before at the Saixiandui site.
Archaeologists discovered two types of silk during their excavations. One type was found in the ashes of the sacrificial pit, with a significant amount of silk traces, while the other was wrapped around the bronze ware.
In the post, the function of silk is elevated to a metaphysical level when employed for sacrificial purposes. It states that silk serves as a carrier and medium for communication between heaven, earth, humans, and gods.
“The earliest silk should not be used solely for creating beautiful clothing but rather to establish communication with the world, people, and gods,” the post declares.
On September 2, 2021, an archaeologist was engaged in excavation work at sacrificial pit number eight within the Saixiandui Ruins site in Sichuan Province, southwest China.
During the recent excavations, archaeologists discovered a delicate gold ornament in the shape of a bird. These findings are expected to contribute to a deeper understanding of the cultural connections between the Chengdu Plain and its surrounding areas, according to experts.
Referred to as the “Bronze Sacred Tree,” the Saixiandui site showcases remnants of a highly brilliant and splendid bronze civilization, as described by the Chengdu government.
The concept of harmony between humans and nature, with distinct Chinese characteristics, is embodied in silk, silkworms, and mulberry.
Saixiandui was initially discovered in 1929. In 1986, a significant excavation revealed two ceremonial pits containing over 1,000 artifacts, as reported by CNN.
Among the items unearthed from sacrificial pit number two in 1986 was a bronze sculpture of a human head with a well-preserved gold mask, currently housed at the Saixiandui Museum.
In late 2019, a third pit was discovered, and an additional five pits were found last year.
In southwest China’s Sichuan Province, the Saixiandui Museum houses a bronze sculpture of a human head adorned with a gold mask. This sculpture was discovered in 1986 at sacrificial pit number two within the Saixiandui Ruins site.
On March 19, 2021, a team of archaeologists conducting excavations at the Saixiandui site in Guanghan City, Sichuan Province, southwest China, was captured in this photograph.
Using specialized equipment, archaeologists are employing remote observation techniques to examine sacrificial pit number five. These pits, believed to have been utilized for sacrificial purposes, are associated with an unidentified civilization.
On March 20, archaeologists utilized their multifunctional archaeological operating system at the excavation site of Saixiandui.
