Process of Discoveries and Excavation
In spring 1929, Yan Daocheng, a farmer in Moon Bend, Zhongxing Chang
(today's Nanxing Town), was working with his family to dig an irrigation
ditch for a water bike. His son, Yan Qing, was using a hoe when he
dug up a circular piece of jade. Yan Daocheng came as soon as he heard
the news. Together, they unearthed about 400 pieces of colorful jade.
They hurriedly replaced the earth and then the whole family returned
late at night to remove and hide the treasures. In advertently, Yan
Daocheng and his family had opened a door on the ancient state of
Shu.
In spring, 1934, Ge Weihan, an American professor and Ling Mingjun,
a clerk in the West China University, headed a steam of archaeological
workers to excavate the Sanxingdui remains. It lasted ten days.
About 400 pieces of jade ware and other objects were unearthed.
In 1963, while excavating in the area, Mr. Feng Hanji pointed to
Sanxingdui and told his students that the remains were so congested
that this must be a central city of ancient Shu. With the further
development of the excavations, his prediction was confirmed.
On March 1st, 1986, the largest ever archaeological excavation
of Sanxingdui began. The archaeologists in the History Department
of Sichuan University, Sichuan Archaeological Research Institute
and Guanghan City, made the remaining mound as the center of operations
and began to work outwards. The total area of excavation is 1,325
square meters, including 53 holes. They cleared out 9 house ruins,
101 ash pits, and got over 100,000 earthenware pieces and about
500 pieces of bronze, jade and lacquer ware. On July 18, No.1 pit
was found. Over 400 pieces altogether, including gold-scepters,
gold masks, bronze images, jade tablets, jade dagger-axes and ivories
were unearthed. On July 27, the No.2 pit was found. Over 800 pieces
together, including gold objects, a bronze standing man, bronze
vertical-eyed mask, large sacred trees, numerous bronze images and
a large number of jade objects were all taken out from the pit.
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