Fangdui Site

Fangdui Site

Fangdui Site is a cultural heritage site protected at the provincial level in Shanxi Province.

Fangdui Site

Fangdui Site (First Batch Provincial-Level Protected Site)

Period: Western Zhou Dynasty

Address: Fangdui Village, 7.5 km northeast of Hongtong County

During the trial excavation in 1954, the site measured 210 meters in length from north to south and 72 meters in width from east to west. The northern and western parts stand 1–2 meters above the current ground level, while the southern and eastern parts are even with the present ground surface. In the central-western area of the site, 18 Western Zhou tombs were excavated and cleared.

Artifacts unearthed include pottery, bronze ware, jade artifacts, and shell objects. Pottery pieces consist of sandy gray pottery and fine cord-marked li tripods; bronze items include ding cauldrons, gui food vessels, ge weapons, and bronze fish. Jade items include huang pendants and rings. Additionally, an inscription reading “Father Yi” was found on the inner wall just below the rim of a ding unearthed in the central-western part of the site.

Oracle bones were discovered in Fangdui Village, one of which bears a divination inscription consisting of eight characters. The interpretation of the inscription reads: “□ chimney □ three stops also illness divined.” This marks the first discovery of Western Zhou oracle bone script within China.

Further Reading:

· First Batch of Shanxi Provincial Cultural Heritage Protection Sites