Chinese archaeologists have recently divulged details about a series of ancient ruins uncovered in Zhejiang province, situated in East China. These ruins are believed to be remnants of structures linked to the historical capital of the Yue state, which existed prior to the Qin Dynasty (221-207 BC).
Since 2020, experts have been conducting extensive excavations at ten prominent sites within Shaoxing city, Zhejiang. These excavations have led to the discovery of substantial buildings and various ancient artifacts, which hold immense significance for future research endeavors.
Spanning approximately seven square kilometers, this cluster of ruins encompasses three primary locations: Tingshan, Nanshan, and Nanshantou. These sites are situated near the legendary mausoleum of Yu, a figure credited with establishing the Xia Dynasty (c. 21st century-16th century BC).
One of the most noteworthy findings is a layer of building remains, measuring 180 centimeters thick, atop Tingshan Mountain—the central site within the cluster. Xu Xinmin, a researcher from the provincial institute of cultural relics and archaeology overseeing the excavation project, highlights the discovery of what appears to be a quay and pits for ritual ceremonies containing sacrificial offerings at the Tingshan Site.
Additionally, the southern part of the Tingshan Site revealed the foundation of a grand building adorned with delicate lacquer decorations on the pillars. This structure is believed to have served as a high-grade public ritual space.
At the Nanshan Site, platform-like foundations were unearthed, yielding a plethora of artifacts including pottery, primitive porcelain, metal items, bamboo and wooden artifacts, as well as animal and plant remains. Notably, the discovery of bronzeware, including a spear and a dagger-axe bearing royal inscriptions, along with seven swords, stands out.
The presence of bones from various animals, including cattle, pigs, deer, freshwater fish, and rare findings such as horse bones from the Yue state and tuna bones, provides insights into the subsistence economy of the era. Additionally, remains of crops, vegetables, and fruits have been uncovered.
Another significant discovery at the Nanshantou Site is a massive tile, measuring 48 cm in length and 36 cm in width, providing a glimpse into the grandeur of the buildings at this location.
Based on these findings, researchers speculate that the Tingshan, Nanshantou, and Nanshan sites formed a functional area within the core region of the Yue state, potentially constituting its capital.
Collectively known as the Tingshan complex, these sites are anticipated to shed light on various aspects of social organization, subsistence economy, transportation, trade, and other societal conditions before and after the establishment of the Yue state, considering the geographical features of the region at that time.
The discovery of the Tingshan complex holds significant importance for the archaeological study of the Shang and Zhou dynasties (c. 16th century-256 BC) in Zhejiang, according to Luo Rupeng, a researcher from the same institute as Xu.
Since 2020, local archaeological authorities, including the Zhejiang provincial institute of cultural relics and archaeology, have been actively involved in excavation work at these sites, covering an accumulated area of more than 20,000 square meters to date.
