Sanxingdui Civilization: Unexplained Artifacts and China’s Greatest Bronze Age Mystery
Hidden beneath the fertile lands of China’s Sichuan Basin lies evidence of a civilization so advanced and so unusual that it has forced historians to rethink the early history of China. The Sanxingdui civilization , dating back over 4,000 years , is one of the most mysterious and least understood societies of the Bronze Age. Although discovered in the early 20th century, its true importance became clear only after large-scale archaeological excavations revealed artifacts unlike anything previously found in ancient China. From massive bronze masks with striking, protruding eyes to towering statues, sacred trees, and carefully arranged sacrificial pits, the artifacts of Sanxingdui break every known artistic and cultural rule of their time. These discoveries point to a highly developed and independent civilization that grew alongside the Shang Dynasty but followed a completely different religious and cultural path. Despite its advanced technology and rich symbolism, Sanxingdui left behind...