3,000-Year-Old Ceremonial Gold Mask Weighing 280 Grams Found Inside 'Sacrificial Pits' Among Other Decorations
In 2020, archaeologists uncovered a 3,000-year-old gold mask alongside other artifacts in Southwest China. The ceremonial mask was found within sacrificial pits at Sanxingdui in Sichuan province, CNN reported. The artifact weighed around 280 grams (0.6 pounds) with 84% of its constitution made of gold. Researchers hope that the gold mask and the other items will give them a better idea of the culture of the ancient Shu state.
Researchers have been excavating in Sanxingdui since 2019, Smithsonian Magazine reported. Since then they have found around 500 historical objects from the place, all of which were made of gold, bronze, jade, or ivory. On examination the discovered items dated back to 3,000 years.
Experts have yet to figure out who made the artifacts but believe they possibly came from the Shu state, an ancient civilization that was conquered by the neighboring state of Qin in 316 B.C. Civilians of the Shu state did not leave behind many written records, therefore knowledge about this civilization is limited. Song Xinchao, deputy director of the National Cultural Heritage Administration believes these findings will "enrich and deepen our understanding of the Sanxingdui culture."
Researchers believe the gold mask was possibly worn by priests during religious ceremonies. The mask's weight made it a significant find, as it is one of the heaviest gold masks from that period to be discovered in China.
The mask was placed alongside other ornate items in six sacrificial pits uncovered at the time of discovery. Other items found in the excavation include bronze sculptures featuring beasts and birds, ivory carvings, and gold jewelry. On analysis, it was confirmed that the objects were similar in appearance to artifacts discovered along the Yangtze River and in Southeast Asia. Zhao Congcang, an archaeologist at Northwest University in Xian claims it indicates that Shu state had "broad exchanges" with its neighbors.
China’s National Cultural Heritage Administration stated they found two kinds of silk during their excavations. One was spotted with the ashes in a particular pit while the other was found on the bronze objects. The finding of silk is important, as the fabric has an important place in China's history.
China’s National Cultural Heritage Administration claimed that the fabric was considered to act "as a carrier and medium for communication between heaven, earth, man and god," by ancient civilizations. Tang Fei, head of the excavation team, and chief of the Sichuan Provincial Cultural Relics and Archaeology Research Institute, thinks that silk's presence at the site implies that Shu state also revered the fabric similar to other contemporary Chinese civilizations.