Chinese archaeologists has discovered a pyramid-shaped building,
dating back more than 5,000 years ago, in the
Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, in north China.
The "pyramid", located on a mountain ridge one kilometer north of
Sijiazi Township in the Aohan Banner (county), is a three-storied
stone building, with the bottom layer being more than 30 meters
long and 15 meters wide.
The "pyramid" belongs to the Hongshan Culture period of 5,000 to
6,000 years ago, according to Guo Dashun, a famous Chinese
archaeologist who works in Liaoning Archaeological Research
Institute.
Seven tombs and ruins of an altar were found on the top of the
"pyramid." At the site of the altar there are many fragments of
broken pottery carved with the Chinese character “mi"
(rice). Archaeologists said that the character "mi" may have
something to do with people's understanding of astrology in ancient
times.
In
one of the tombs, archaeologists found a bone flute and a stone
ring, and they unearthed a stone sculpture of a goddess the size of
a human body in another tomb.
Archaeologists were surprised to find a stone-carved linga on the
wall of a tomb and a small stone statue of a goddess below the
linga in the same tomb.
Archaeologist Guo said that many of the relics were first-time
discoveries and they are of great significance in studying the
burial customs, religious and sacrifice rituals, and the social
structure of the Hongshan Culture.
He
pointed out, the discovery of the "pyramid" is also of great
significance in exploring the origin of the Chinese
civilization.
The Hongshan Culture, belonging to the Neolithic culture, is mainly
distributed in the juncture area between Inner Mongolia,
Liaoning and Hebei
provinces.
(Xinhua News Agency 07/09/2001)