Sanxingdui

Sanxingdui is an archaeological site and museum complex in Sichuan province, China, associated with a Bronze Age culture often called Shu. The site is significant for unusually large and distinctive bronze and gold ritual objects discovered in the 20th century.

The museum displays many original bronzes, masks and jade objects recovered from the site along with reconstructions and contextual exhibits. Two large sacrificial pits discovered in 1986 produced some of the most striking finds and are the focus of major displays. The ensemble helps illustrate metalworking and ritual practice very different from contemporaneous sites on the Central Plain.

Archaeological work at Sanxingdui began with finds reported in the early 20th century and intensified after the 1986 discoveries of the pits. Excavations have been conducted by Chinese archaeological teams and have reshaped understanding of regional Bronze Age cultures in the upper Yangtze basin.

The site and museum sit near the city of Guanghan in northeastern Sichuan, roughly 40 kilometers from central Chengdu, on relatively flat plain terrain that opens toward the Sichuan Basin.

• Notable finds: Major finds include large bronze masks and humanlike bronze figures that are distinct from contemporaneous Central Plain styles.
• Location note: The main archaeological site lies near the city of Guanghan, about 40 kilometers northeast of Chengdu, and is displayed in a purpose-built museum.

What to See #

• Sanxingdui Museum: A museum complex built to display finds from the site and to present reconstructions and context for Bronze Age Shu culture artifacts.
• Archaeological pits: Two large sacrificial pits uncovered in 1986 that yielded many of the site's most distinctive bronzes, masks, and other ritual objects.