The Chengdu Archeological Team discovered a 3,000-year-old
painted woodcarving of a head during the second phase of excavation
at the Jinsha site's ritual area. It is the oldest and most intact
sculpture over its type ever discovered in southwest China's Sichuan
Province.
According to Wang Yi, curator of the Chengdu Municipal Museum,
the woodcarving was found buried about three meters below the
earth's surface.
It is 80 centimeters long, with exaggerated facial features
carved in bas-relief. The eyes and brows are painted with bright
colors. A coronet adorns the top of the head, and a braid at the
back is similar to the bronze head sculpture unearthed at the
Sanxingdui site. The pointed bottom indicates that it may have been
thrust into the earth for ritual and religious ceremonies.
"This head sculpture is more than 3,000 years old and represents
the highest level of woodcarving at that time," said Wang.
"Furthermore, woodcarvings excavated in other places nationwide are
not as well preserved as this."
The second phase of the dig in the Jinsha ritual area has been
going on for about two months, and is entering its final stages.
The excavated area, about 100 meters away from the ritual pit
discovered in 2001, covers about 1,000 square meters.
Together with the carved head, numerous stone and jade vessels,
pottery and deer bones and teeth were found in the ritual area. The
items are all believed to be between 2,800 and 3,200 years old.
Since 2001, more than a thousand vessels made of gold, jade,
stone, bronze and ivory have been unearthed at Jinsha.
(China.org.cn by Li Shen, December 30, 2004)
