The Shang Dynasty Site at Dongxianxian

The Shang Dynasty Site at Dongxianxian is located in and around Dongxianxian Village, Nanshimen Township, Xingtai County. It lies to the south of Qili River and has slightly higher terrain compared to the surrounding areas. The site stretches approximately 970 meters from north to south and about 780 meters from east to west, covering a total area of around 750,000 square meters. It ranks as one of the most significant Shang Dynasty sites after the capitals of Zhengzhou, Yanshi, and the Yinxu site in Anyang...

The Shang Dynasty Site at Dongxianxian

The Shang Dynasty Site at Dongxianxian

The Shang Dynasty Site at Dongxianxian is situated in and around Dongxianxian Village, Nanshimen Township, Xingtai County, bordered by Qili River to the south. The terrain here is slightly elevated compared to the surrounding areas. The site spans roughly 970 meters from north to south and 780 meters from east to west, with a total area of about 750,000 square meters, making it one of the most important Shang Dynasty sites after those of Zhengzhou, Yanshi, and the Yinxu site in Anyang. Among these, the southern part of Dongxianxian Village features an 80,000-square-meter area rich in cultural strata, while the northern part has a 100,000-square-meter area abundant in such layers. In 1998 and 2000, joint archaeological excavations were carried out at the site by the Hebei Provincial Institute of Cultural Relics, the Institute of Archaeology of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, and the School of Archaeology and Museology at Peking University. These digs revealed that apart from small patches of Warring States and Han Dynasty deposits, the area is predominantly composed of Shang Dynasty remains, with cultural layers ranging from 50 to 200 centimeters thick and some areas reaching up to 300 centimeters. During these two excavations, 17 excavation units (test pits) were laid out, covering more than 400 square meters, and uncovered numerous remains such as house foundations, pottery kilns, and ash pits. A wealth of artifacts was also unearthed. This site’s earliest phase dates later than Zhengzhou’s Xiaoshuangqiao site but earlier than the first phase of Yinxu. It corresponds in time to the period when King Zu Yi of the Shang Dynasty moved the capital to Xing (邢), thus providing valuable archaeological evidence supporting the claim that the Xing referred to in historical texts is today’s Xingtai. It plays a crucial role within the “Xia–Shang–Zhou Chronology Project.” The discovery and excavation of the Dongxianxian Shang Dynasty Site have greatly enriched the archaeological data on Shang culture and are of great significance to the study of Shang civilization. In 2007, it was designated as a National Cultural Heritage Protection Unit.

Further Reading:

· Sixth Batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units