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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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