Zhaigou site: Illuminating Shang civilization in Shaanxi

One of China’s top 10 archaeological discoveries in 2023, the Zhaigou site in Qingjian county, Shaanxi province, covering approximately 3 million square meters on the Loess Plateau, is a vast Shang Dynasty (c.16th century-11th century BC) settlement featuring ruins, including large-scale rammed-earth buildings, tombs, bronze casting ruins and civil living areas.

Burial chariots, along with bronze accessories, jade ware, bone ware, lacquerware, and tortoise shells, were discovered in noble tombs at the site. Notably, one chariot with double straight shafts stands as China's earliest tangible artifact of its kind. These findings suggest a highly developed Bronze Age civilization in northern Shaanxi during the late Shang Dynasty, highlighting the profound influence of Shang civilization on its surrounding areas.