Jinsha Archaeological Site
Jinsha Village · Jinsha Shang–Zhou site · Chengdu Jinsha
Shu Late Bronze 1200–500 BCE·Shu–Sichuan Basin (successor to Sanxingdui)·🇨🇳 Sichuan Province, Chengdu City, Qingyang District, Jinsha village on Modi River, western Chengdu plain, China
About
About Jinsha Archaeological Site
Late Bronze Age ritual centre (1200–500 BCE) on Modi River at Chengdu, successor to Sanxingdui after its abrupt collapse c.1200 BCE, preserving elite sacrificial pits, gold foil sun-bird foil (now China national emblem) and 6000+ jade, ivory and elephant tusk deposits. 5 ha core palace-like pit zone and 30 ha settlement demonstrate Shu Kingdom's move 40 km southeast to Chengdu plain, with ritual deposition of smashed bronzes mirroring Sanxingdui pit-veneration but with Zhou influence. Discovered 2001 during Chengdu real-estate construction; rescue excavation 2001–2007 is largest urban archaeology in China.
Why it mattersDirect continuity proving Sanxingdui → Jinsha 40 km migration solving Shu collapse mystery; gold sun-bird foil national symbol; largest elephant-tusk deposit in Chinese archaeology proves Yangtze elephant range.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Why Sanxingdui abruptly abandoned and Jinsha founded 40 km away — flood, war or ritual taboo?
- 02Ivory source — Sichuan elephants extinct c.1000 BCE vs trade from Yunnan?
Theories
- 01Sacrificial smash-and-bury ritual killing of Bronzes; Zhou pressure vs internal theocracy collapse
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- c.1200–500 BCE (Western Zhou to Early Eastern Zhou)
- Period
- Shu Late Bronze 1200–500 BCE
- Culture
- Shu–Sichuan Basin (successor to Sanxingdui)
- Builders
- Shu elite / ritualists
- Purpose
- River plain ritual-ceremonial centre with sacrificial pits and palace
- Abandoned
- c.500 BCE with Shu consolidation at Chengdu fortified city
- Rediscovered
- 2001 construction finds ivory tusk; rescue excavation Chengdu Institute
- Excavation
- Excavation ongoing
2001-02
Construction crew finds elephant tusk and gold foil; archaeology notified
2001–2007
Rescue excavation exposes 400+ pits with sun-bird gold, bronzes, jades, 60 elephant tusks
2007
Jinsha Site Museum opens over pits
On the ground
Structures & features
30.6810° N · 104.0190° E · 500 m · 2 mapped features
Meiyuan sacrificial pit cluster
pit cluster200 ritual pits with gold sun-bird and bronzes
30.6815° N · 104.0195° EPalace-like large building foundation
palace foundationWattle and posthole hall 30×12 m beside pits
30.6805° N · 104.0185° E
Gallery