The Mystery of Sanxingdui Culture

The archaeological site of Sanxingdui in the southeastern Chinese province of Sichuan, in the area of the former Shu Kingdom, represents the remains of an unknown culture named Sanxingdui after the site. In 1929, workers accidentally stumbled upon jade objects while digging, sparking research that yielded rich results in 1986. Archaeologists then discovered two sacrificial pits filled with a multitude of objects that caused a true archaeological sensation. Through their research, they concluded that this culture dates back to the 11th-12th century BC and coincides with the middle and late periods of the Shang Dynasty. However, there are no written records to confirm these assumptions, as Chinese historical chronicles make no mention of this culture.

The unknown culture left behind extraordinary artifacts, with the most interest being drawn to the fascinating bronze figures and objects. These bronze finds, now mostly housed in the museum in Guanghan, have been showcased in exhibitions in all major world capitals. where they are described as a true miracle: mysterious, magnificent, incomparable, unique, sensational… With their original artistic style and sophistication, they significantly differ from the bronze objects from the Shang and Zhou periods, although there are certain similarities. It is apparent that exceptional and advanced knowledge of casting and processing bronze was used; in addition to the standard mixture of copper and tin, they also mixed in lead, which resulted in a stronger and more durable alloy that allowed them to create much larger and heavier objects. This is how the oldest bronze human statue was made, measuring 172 cm in height, on a pedestal 90 cm high, weighing 180 kg, as well as a bronze tree with birds, flowers, and ornaments, reaching a total height of 396 cm. The most unusual discoveries, however, are related to the findings of grotesque bronze masks and heads (some with masks made of gold foil) that almost inspire awe and reverence. They have prominently large eyes, in some cases protruding pupils that are 30 cm long, a square face, a straight nose, and large animal ears, leading some to associate them with the beyond. In addition to zoomorphic masks, bronze representations of eagles, snakes, dragons, and tigers were also common. In addition to bronze, objects made of jade, ivory, gold, and numerous shells and elephant tusks have been found.

The mysterious and magnificent Sanxingdui culture, which will remain an enigma and challenge for world archaeologists and historians for the time being, although Chinese historians have not included it in historical records, is a unique and shining page in China’s long history.