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3,000 year old Chinese Tombs - sacrifice

Evidence of sacrifice found in 3,000 year old Chinese Tombs

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In 2011, excavations began in the  Jiangzhai village in China, which uncovered an ancient graveyard known as the Yejiashan graveyard. More than 3700 square meters have been excavated and many artefacts have been discovered including potteries, ceramics, jades, tools, primitive porcelains and other artefacts. A few well preserved tombs were found dating back to the West Zhou dynasty 3,000 years ago including burial furniture and coffins. The discovery of the massive Yejiashan graveyard was classified in China as one of the Top 10 discoveries of 2011.

Today, 2 years later, a new round of excavations have begun that brought to the surface seven sacrificial tombs with horse skeletons inside that according to archaeologist Li Boqian are the first from that period of China’s history. In one of the largest discovered tombs, the oldest ever chime bells were uncovered and were probably used during the rituals of the time.

Sacrifices were a common practice in ancient civilizations and the purpose was to satisfy divine beings and achieve a goal or a higher purpose. It is interesting to notice all religions in many different parts of the world followed such a practice, even if the communication between some of them was impossible. This leads to the question as to how they acquired this practice in the first place and what made them believe that their actions would satisfy their ‘gods’? Well the some suggestion has already been mentioned in the ancient texts - ‘Gods’ taught people sacrifice and demanded it from them. Sacrifice is something common even in Christianity, including the story of Isaac where ‘God’ tested the faith of his follower Abraham. Is all of that in the imagination of multiple disconnected civilizations all over the world or is it somehow related to a truth?

By John Black

 
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John Black

Dr John (Ioannis) Syrigos initially began writing on Ancient Origins under the pen name John Black. He is both a co-owner and co-founder of Ancient Origins.

John is a computer & electrical engineer with a PhD in Artificial Intelligence, a... Read More

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