The Chinese Tutankhamun Whose Tomb Was Untouched For 3000 Years | Our History
Our History・29 minutes read
Anyang, China, is a significant hub of ancient history with the birth of Chinese archaeology. The discovery of Fu Hao's tomb in Anyang, filled with treasures and human sacrifices, sheds light on the Shang Dynasty's technological prowess, trading connections, and empire-building under the leadership of King Wu Ding.
Insights
- Fu Hao's tomb in Anyang, discovered in 1976, contained a vast array of treasures, including jade creatures, bronze vessels, and weapons, shedding light on her prominent role in the Shang Dynasty and confirming the practice of human sacrifice among the Shang people.
- Anyang's cosmopolitan nature and trading connections during Wu Ding's reign, exemplified by the discovery of exotic treasures from distant sources in Fu Hao's tomb, indicate the city's significance as a hub for innovation, empire building, and cultural exchange, showcasing the Shang's advanced technological prowess and far-reaching connections across Eurasia.
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Recent questions
What significant archaeological discoveries were made in Anyang, China?
The city of Anyang in China has been a hub for scholars of ancient history since 1928, known as the birthplace of Chinese archaeology. It hosted the longest excavation in China and one of the most significant, attracting archaeologists worldwide. In 1976, a lone, unlooted royal tomb was discovered in Anyang, similar to Tutankhamun's tomb, revealing a wealth of treasures belonging to the legendary Fu Hao. This tomb contained finely carved jade creatures, bronze vessels, and over 100 weapons, shedding light on the Shang Dynasty's advanced bronze-making techniques and technological prowess.
Who was Fu Hao and what was her significance in the Shang Dynasty?
Fu Hao, believed to be one of King Wu Ding's main wives, was a prominent figure in the Shang Dynasty. Her tomb in Anyang contained treasures such as finely carved jade creatures, bronze vessels, and over 100 weapons. Oracle bones found in Anyang provided insights into Fu Hao's military campaigns, health, and even pregnancy. The discovery of her tomb, accompanied by 16 human sacrifices, confirmed the Shang's practice of human sacrifice and showcased their preference for bronze over gold.
What were the trading connections and empire building of the Shang Dynasty?
The Shang Dynasty had trading connections stretching thousands of kilometers across mountain ranges and deserts, with settlements found as far as 600 km south of Anyang, possibly military outposts for copper control. Wu Ding, a key figure in the Shang Dynasty, established imperial outposts to ensure metal supply and controlled transport networks for sophisticated bronze vessels. The Shang's advanced bronze-making techniques and trading connections showcased their technological advancements and empire-building strategies.
How did the Shang Dynasty utilize chariots and what was their significance?
The Shang Dynasty likely imported chariots from Western Eurasia through trading routes, symbolizing status and technological advancement. Chariot burials with horses and charioteers were first introduced in China during Wu Ding's reign, showcasing the dynasty's innovation and trading connections. The discovery of imported bow-shaped objects for chariots and chariot burials near Fu Hao's tomb highlighted the significance of chariots in the Shang Dynasty's military and cultural practices.
What led to the decline of Anyang and the end of the Shang Dynasty?
Anyang, once a thriving multicultural city under Wu Ding's rule, eventually declined, allowing the Western Zhou to conquer central China. This marked the end of the Shang Dynasty, known for its advancements in writing, war chariots, and bronze making. The dynasty's decline, characterized by the conquest of central China, signified the end of an era with King Wu Ding and Fu Hao as key figures in this ancient civilization.
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Summary
00:00
Anyang: Birthplace of Chinese Archaeology and History
- Anyang, China, located over 450 kilometers south of Beijing, has been a hub for scholars of ancient history since 1928.
- Anyang is the birthplace of Chinese archaeology, hosting the longest excavation in China and one of the most significant.
- In 2009, archaeologists worldwide gathered in Anyang to unravel the mysteries of the Shang Dynasty.
- The discovery of a lone, unlooted royal tomb in Anyang in 1976, akin to Tutankhamun's tomb, revealed a wealth of treasures.
- The tomb, belonging to the legendary Fu Hao, contained finely carved jade creatures, bronze vessels, and over 100 weapons.
- Fu Hao, believed to be one of King Wu Ding's main wives, was a prominent figure in the Shang Dynasty.
- Oracle bones found in Anyang shed light on Fu Hao's military campaigns, health, and even pregnancy.
- Fu Hao's tomb, accompanied by 16 human sacrifices, confirms the Shang's practice of human sacrifice.
- The Shang's advanced bronze-making techniques, evident in Fu Hao's tomb, showcased their technological prowess.
- Analysis of residues in the bronze vessels from Fu Hao's tomb revealed the Shang's preference for bronze over gold and the potential health risks of lead contamination in their wine.
21:56
Mongolian features, distant treasures, empire building, chariots
- Features typical of people from Mongolia: high forehead, round eyes, high cheekbones
- Fouhau's tomb contains treasures from distant sources:
- Four bronze mirrors possibly from Central Asia, over 1500 km away
- 750 precious jades sourced from Xinjiang, almost 2000 km away
- Exotic treasures in Fouhau's tomb with links spanning great distances:
- Trade connections reaching Eurasian steppe over 1000 years before the Silk Route
- Cowrie shells, almost 7000 in the tomb, possibly from the nearest coast 500 km east or as far as 5000 km away
- Shang's trading connections and empire building:
- Trading connections stretching thousands of kilometers across mountain ranges and deserts
- Shang settlement found 600 km south of Anyang, possibly a military outpost for copper control
- Wu Ding's empire building and metal supply:
- Imperial outposts to ensure metal supply and controlled transport network
- Highly organized movement of materials for sophisticated bronze vessels
- Discovery of a new Shang cemetery in Annan:
- Rare find due to past looting, clues of high status tomb owner
- Tomb owner offered bronzes, potteries, and jades, indicating importance
- Innovations and trading connections during Fu Hao's time:
- Imported bow-shaped objects for chariots, possibly from the north or northwest
- Chariot burials with horses and charioteers, first in China during Wu Ding's reign
- Origin of chariots in China and their significance:
- Chariots likely from Western Eurasia, brought in through trading routes
- Chariots symbolized status and technological advancement for the Shang
- Discovery of M54 tomb near Fu Hao's:
- Skeleton of tomb owner found, rare due to intact remains
- Bronze hand found, possibly an early artificial limb, alongside bronze weapons
- Investigation into Yah Chang's life and death:
- Yah Chang surrounded by peppercorns, embedded in bones, indicating battle injuries
- Severe injuries, including a hip bone blow, suggest active combat involvement
- Ethnic origins revealed through strontium analysis:
- Ritual sacrifices in tomb were locals, not war captives as assumed
- Outsider retainers and Yah Chang identified through strontium signals
- Yah Chang's origins traced through oxygen isotopes:
- Born near Xinyang, over 400 km away, suggesting a cosmopolitan Anyang
- Vision of Wu Ding's leadership and Anyang's cosmopolitan nature:
- Subsurface coring establishes limits of Bronze Age city under Wu Ding's rule
- Jing Ji Chun's conclusion on Wu Ding's visionary role in creating a flourishing city
43:40
Rammed Earth: Ancient City's Rise and Fall
- Rammed earth, when dried, becomes as hard as brick, showcasing its use in ancient structures like temples and palaces. In 1999, a team discovered a lost city, One Bay, an earlier Shang capital, indicating a deliberate fire that led to the city's abandonment and the establishment of a new capital by Wu Ding across the river, characterized by a unique layout without walls and a diverse population mix.
- Anyang, once a thriving multicultural city under Wu Ding's rule, eventually declined, allowing the Western Zhou to conquer central China, marking the end of the Shang dynasty known for its advancements in writing, war chariots, and bronze making, with a warrior queen and King Wu Ding as key figures in this ancient civilization.
