On June 13, the Research Institute of Archeology and Cultural Relics of Sichuan Province (China) announced the astonishing discovery of 13,000 artifacts and antiquities unearthed in 6 sacrificial pits at Tam Tinh. Double (near Chengdu), an archaeological site that shocked the world.
Tam Tinh Doi is a very mysterious site for both archaeologists and historians. In fact, historians also know relatively little about the Tam Tinh Doi culture because there are no historical records or remains. Although many people believe that Tam Tinh Doi was part of the ancient state of Shu, very little is known.
However, new findings at this site may help archaeologists better understand the kingdom that once ruled in the western Sichuan basin, along the upper Yangtze River until its conquest in AD. 316 BC.
According to the announcement of the Institute of Archeology and Cultural Relics of Sichuan Province, except for pits 5 and 6 dating back to later, the other burial pits are believed to date from the end of the Shang Dynasty. about 3,000 to 3,200 years ago.
In addition, experts also confirmed that the Sanxing Doi culture is considered an important part of Chinese civilization.
According to Xinhua , thanks to the above excavation and determining the “age” of the sacrificial pits to be more than 3,000 years ago, archaeologists have solved the question, the decades-long debate about the mystery of dating. by Tam Tinh Doi.
Discover “unique” in Tam Tinh Doi
Previously, a team of archaeologists from the Sichuan Provincial Institute of Cultural Heritage and Archeology, Peking University, Sichuan University and other research institutions conducted six excavations at the site. Tam Tinh Doi from 2020.
According to Xinhua , in the most recent excavation, archaeologists found 3,155 relatively intact artifacts, including more than 2,000 bronze artifacts and statues.
Archaeologists discovered a bronze box containing a piece of jade in Tam Tinh Doi. Photo: Xinhua
In particular, among the above artifacts, archaeologists discovered a bronze box shaped like a tortoise shell containing a piece of jade. This is one of the most amazing finds at the Tam Tinh Doi site. Archaeologists think this is the first time they have discovered such an object.
Talking to Xinhua , Professor Li Haichao at Sichuan University commented: “It would not be an exaggeration to say that this is a unique piece because of its special shape, fine workmanship and ingenious design. Although we do not know what this object was used for, we can speculate that the ancients viewed it as a treasure.”
In addition to the above unique box, archaeologists also found a bronze altar about 0.9 m high in one of the burial pits in Tam Tinh Doi. According to experts, the people of the ancient Thuc state could use the altar to make offerings and sacrifices to their ancestors, heaven and earth. The surrounding traces of bamboo, reeds, soybeans, cattle and wild boar around the pits suggest that all of these were used as sacrificial offerings.
The bronze altar was found in the sacrifice hole No. 8 at the Tam Tinh Doi site. Photo: Xinhua
These new archaeological finds are mainly from the sacrificial pits 7 and 8 at the Tam Tinh Doi site.
At the 7th hole, there are many antiques and precious artifacts made of jade and bronze found. Meanwhile, at Sacrifice Hole No. 8, in addition to the bronze altar, archaeologists also unearthed a variety of artifacts, such as a golden mask, a sculpture with a human head and a snake body made of a snake. copper…
Associate professor Zhao Hao at Peking University, who led the excavation at hole 8, commented: “The sculptures are complex, imaginative and reflect the world envisioned by humans. At that time, they also represent the diversity and richness of Chinese civilization.”
Ran Honglin, director of the SanxingDoi Archaeological and Cultural Heritage Research Institute, said the diversity of artifacts at the site shows the cultural exchange between ancient civilizations in China. .
The bronze head with a gold mask was found from the 8th sacrificial pit at Tam Tinh Doi. Photo: Xinhua
Tam Tinh Doi – Archaeological site that shocked the world
The Three Stars Doi site is located on the south bank of the Yatzi River, northwest of Guanghan City, Sichuan Province, China. This is considered one of the most important archaeological discoveries of the 20th century, shocking the world.
The reason why Tam Tinh Doi has achieved shocking discoveries is thanks to the participation and cooperation and efforts of 39 scientific research organizations, universities and a series of leading technology companies. after excavation work. This large team of experts has made breakthroughs in excavation, conservation and multidisciplinary research.
At Sacrifice Hole 8, archaeologists found a bronze sculpture of a human head and snake body. Photo: Xinhua
Tam Tinh Doi covers an area of 12 square kilometers and is believed to be the remains of the state of Shu, dating from about 4,500 to 3,000 years.
The site was first discovered in the late 1920s after a farmer stumbled upon more than 400 jade artifacts.
In the 1980s, archaeologists suddenly discovered two sacrificial pits with more than 1,700 artifacts. However, the excavation work was stopped until 2019. According to SCMP , from 2020 to 2022, experts discovered 6 more sacrificial pits at the Tam Tinh Doi site. Thus, so far, there are 8 sacrificial pits found in Tam Tinh Doi.
In particular, in 2021, archaeologists were extremely surprised to find a gold mask weighing about 100 grams, and objects of ivory and jade at this mysterious site. In addition, at the sacrifice pit No. 5, experts also found the most gold pieces.
More than 90 years since its first discovery, each excavation of Tam Tinh Doi has become a subject of curiosity for many people. A series of rare antiques and artifacts were found at this archaeological site. There are even bronze statues or masks that are still intact with exquisite workmanship, surprising many experts and saying that they cannot come from a simple civilization. Therefore, when watching these excavations, many people joke that Tam Tinh Doi may come from an alien civilization.
According to researchers, the discovery of many bronze artifacts and artifacts in Tam Tinh Doi shows that the bronze casting and processing technology of the craftsmen in ancient Thuc was very proficient.
In the coming time, archaeologists and experts will continue to research to be able to find out the mystery of Tam Tinh Doi, which hides one of the mysterious civilizations of mankind.
