Delving into the Remarkable Archaeological Discoveries of Chinese History

One of the latest discoveries at the site of San Tinh Doi, Sichuan province, China.

Archaeologists returned to excavate the Tam Tinh Doi site in 2019 and have so far found more than 500 artifacts made of gold, copper, jade, and ivory, dating back more than 3,000 years. Most notably, the golden mask is said to have been worn by a priest to perform a ceremony.

Here are the greatest archaeological finds ever in China, according to SCMP.

Qin Shi Huang’s Terracotta Army

Qin Shi Huang was buried with a terracotta army of up to 8,000 statues.

The life-sized terracotta army, placed in the tomb of Qin Shi Huang, was first discovered in 1970 in Xi’an.

When the Chinese emperor Qin Shi Huang died in 210 BC, he was buried with 8,000 warriors and horses made from terracotta. The terracotta army is said to protect the emperor during his journey to the afterlife.

According to historical documents, 700,000 workers worked for 40 years to complete the construction of the tomb of Qin Shi Huang, which spans an area of 50km.

The oldest writing in China

Ancient writing from the Shang Dynasty, 3,000 years ago.

Archaeologists made an important discovery at Yin Xu, about 500km south of Beijing, the capital of the Shang Dynasty (1,600 BC – 1,050 BC), in present-day Henan province, China.

This was the first dynasty in China that archaeologists found evidence of the existence of bronze. The 30km2 archaeological site holds many important artifacts, including an ancient script carved on animal bones. This is considered to be the first written form in China.

A museum displaying artifacts from the Shang Dynasty is expected to open next year, according to Xinhua.

The oldest noodle bowl

Ancient noodles were found by scientists in Qinghai province, northwest China.

In 2005, Chinese archaeologists found a 4,000-year-old bowl of noodles, covered in silt, after a massive earthquake in northwest China’s Qinghai province.

Lajia Archaeological Site in Qinghai reveals the oldest version of this dish in the world.

Ancient wine 2,000 years old

In 2018, archaeologists found 3.5 liters of a pale yellow liquid inside a copper jar, which smelled like alcohol.

It is not clear what the drink was made of, but it was found at a grave in Luoyang, Henan province, central China. Luoyang was once the capital of 13 Chinese dynasties.

Archaeologists also discovered bronze artifacts, including a goose-shaped lamp and several painted clay pots in the tomb.

Divorce agreement from the Tang Dynasty

A couple from the Tang Dynasty (618-907) in China decided to get a divorce and the divorce agreement was found in Dunhuang cave in northwest Gansu province. 1,000 years later, archaeologists found ancient documents about this.

The agreement reads: “Because the husband and wife think differently, it is difficult for them to live in the same house. In this situation, it is better to let them stay with their loved ones and return to normal life.”

The man said: “I hope that after the divorce, my wife will have beautiful hair and attractive eyebrows again, so that she can marry another man of higher status, so that all We all feel calm and enjoy happiness.”

The oldest cosmetic for men

Antique lotion for men.

The 2,700-year-old men’s facial whitening cream is housed in an ornate bronze vase, intact after thousands of years.

Archaeologists found this cream inside the tomb of an aristocrat of the Spring and Autumn period (771 BC – 476 BC). This is the stage that sets the stage for opening the famous Warring States period in China.

The scientists concluded that 6 grams of the compound found at the Liujiawa archaeological site, Shaanxi province, was made from the fat of ruminants, mixed with monohydrocalcite to form a skin whitening cream.