It is through archeological finds, such as those at Chen Ghou in the Peoples Republic of China that much of our knowledge and interpretations about ancient Chinese culture are derived. The pottery, bones, weapons and other artifacts found at this archeological site has provided scientists with a virtual treasure trove of information.
The Bronze Age in China is a signficiant period, particularly as it pertains to the Shang Dynasty (1600bc - 1027bc). It was in this period that advances in metal-working, artistry and weapon-making were being made. Due to archeological finds at Chen Ghou, archeologists are able to obtain a better view of day-to-day life and social structure during this time period. This era saw the implementation of Chinese writing (as displayed by writings on oracle bones found at Chen Ghou). In addition, artifacts that have been found at the site include bronze battle axes, jade ritual objects and jewelry. The survivability of these artifacts is testament to the durabilty and quality of production methods during the Shang Dynasty.
Careful examination of these objects, particularly weapons, shows a marked advance in sophistication in metallurgy and bronze casting. In addition, the glazed pottery that has been discovered shows that the Chinese artisans and craftspeople of this era were expert at using the materials at hand.
The social structure, from the Royal Family on down to the nobelmen, professionals and commoners, becomes clear upon further examination of the surviving relics. The higher one's position in the order, the greater number and variety of personal artifacts. Generally speaking, those higher in the social ranking also were also able to obtain a better quality of items than commoners. This archeological site has provided tremendous insights into the world of ancient China, and is a most valuable find.
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3. www.wsu.edu:8080/~dee/ANCCHINA/CHOU.HTM
4. http://www.nga.gov/education/chinatp_arc.htm
Written by: Mark Spangler