China’s cultural authorities recently held a significant event in Beijing, unveiling the latest archaeological discoveries of the national project dedicated to tracing the origins of Chinese civilization. This ambitious initiative, spearheaded by Li Qun, vice minister of culture and tourism and head of the National Cultural Heritage Administration (NCHA), is a testament to the rich and complex history of one of the world’s oldest civilizations.
The project, initiated in 2020, has entered its fifth phase, expanding research to 29 core sites across China. It employs an interdisciplinary approach, merging field archaeology with sciences and humanities to deepen our understanding of the early stages of Chinese civilization. This collaboration has led to some remarkable breakthroughs, particularly in understanding the distribution and internal structure of the sacrificial area at the famous Sanxingdui Ruins site.
The project’s findings suggest that around 5,800 years ago, a period of rapid civilizational development began in China, marked by social differentiation in various regions. This era, stretching from 5,800 to 3,500 years ago, encompasses the ancient state era and the era of dynasties.
Key phases of this era are exemplified by significant archaeological sites. The first stage (5,800-5,200 years ago) is represented by the Niuheliang site in Liaoning Province, showcasing the largest known sacrificial site and tomb group of the Hongshan culture. The second stage (5,200-4,300 years ago), including the Liangzhu site in Zhejiang Province, witnessed heightened social differentiation and resource mobilization. Recent excavations at Liangzhu have revealed an extensive water conservancy system with new dams dating back around 5,000 years.
The third stage (4,300-3,800 years ago) saw the historical trend centering around the Central Plains, laying the groundwork for China’s historical trajectory. The era of dynasties, believed to have started around 3,800 years ago, is significantly marked by the Erlitou and Sanxingdui sites. The Erlitou site in Henan Province, corresponding to the Xia and Shang dynasties, reveals a structured urban layout indicative of a mature social hierarchy.
The Sanxingdui Ruins site, renowned globally, has made significant progress in understanding its sacrificial area. Recent excavations uncovered six sacrificial pits and over 12,000 artifacts, including 2,300 complete items. These findings suggest the burial ages of these pits align with the late Shang and early Zhou periods (around 3,100 to 3,000 years ago).
Chang Huaiying, a research fellow, noted the strategic placement of sacrificial pits at elevated areas along the southern riverbank at Sanxingdui. The unearthed artifacts, such as divine trees and gold masks, display unique features of the ancient Shu state and are believed to be locally produced, though further research is required for confirmation.
The project also emphasizes the integration of various disciplines across core sites. Collaborative studies involving animal archaeology, plant archaeology, environmental archaeology, and ancient DNA analysis have revealed significant regional differences in subsistence economies over the past 7,000 years. The Central Plains and northern regions, for instance, show a mixed agricultural system dominated by millet and supplemented by wheat, soybeans, and rice.
Looking forward, the NCHA aims to continue advancing and deepening this national project, combining archaeology, literature research, and scientific methods. This holistic approach seeks to answer critical questions about the origin, formation, and development of Chinese civilization, offering a comprehensive view of its evolution.
Complementing these academic efforts, a documentary series titled “China Before China” is set to air on Shanghai’s Dragon TV. The eight-episode series, grounded in the findings of the civilization-tracing project, aims to visually narrate the diverse yet unified formation of the Chinese nation and the genesis of its civilization, retracing its historical origins and cultural foundations.
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