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The site of Sanxingdui, located in the city of Guanghan, 40 km
from Chengdu, Sichuan Province, is recognized as one of the most
important ancient remains in the world for its vast size, lengthy
period and enriched cultural contents.
The first Sanxingdui relics were discovered by a farmer in 1929
and excavation has continued ever since. During this period, generations
of archaeologists have worked on the discovery and research of the
Sanxingdui culture. In 1986, two major sacrificial pits were found
and they aroused widespread academic attention around the world.
The Sanxingdui finds are exciting, but they remain enigmatic. No
texts have been found, nor is there any mention of this culture
in the records of other countries. Analysis of lead and other elements
in the bronzes indicates sources similar to those of other cultures
along the lower reaches of the Yangtze River. At this point, however,
the unique culture that produced these artifacts remains a mystery.
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