Situated to the northeast of the Sanxingdu archaeological site, the Sanxingdui Museum covers a total area of approximately 4,000 square metres. Featuring excellent state-of-the-art facilities, the museum was opened in 1997. Among the many relics housed at the museum, most were unearthed from the Sanxingdui site.
A cultural site belonging to the ancient Sichuan (Shu), Sanxingdui is considered to be a significant archaeological discovery. It is believed to have changed people’s comprehension of ancient culture and history. The three earth mounds at this site are referred to as Sanxingdui. The area of the Sanxingdui Relic sprawls over 12 square kilometres, making it not only the oldest but also the largest Shu cultural relic in the area.
The three earth mounds are believed to have been created after three handfuls of earth were cast down by the Heavenly Emperor. At times referred to as three golden stars, the three earth piles were subsequently confirmed by modern archaeology as the southern wall of some ancient city that was made of soil. However the wall had collapsed and eroded following two breaches, leaving the three mounds that can be seen today.
Separated into four themed sections, the Sanxingdui Museum showcases two sacrificial pits of the Shang Period and over 1000 cultural relics from the Sanxingdui Relic. The two sacrificial pits include bronze ware, gold plate, ivory, pottery and jade articles.
The first section is themed as “Splendour of Ancient Shu Culture” and comprises five units. The history and background of the ancient Shu is presented in the first unit in a thought-provoking manner while the other four units reflect the imagination, skill and technical achievement of the ancient Sichuan community.
The second section titled “Mystery of the Primitive Faith” is dedicated to emphasising the topic ‘humanity and divinity’. Simply titled “Exquisite Cultural Artefacts”, the third section showcases cultural relics considered as soul treasures symbolizing the spirit of ancient Shu people.
The fourth section titled “Excavation and Study”, presents a scientific display that exemplifies the Sanxingdui Relic’s impact overseas, its vital position in academic study and the process of its discovery and excavation.
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