Graveyard of State of Guo of late Western Zhou Dynasty (11th century-771BC)
Location: Sanmenxia, Henan Province
Period: 8th Century BC-655 BC
Excavated from 1956 to the present

Significance: The find has not only proved the records of State of Guo in ancient documents, but also supplied rich material objects to the study of the cultural development of the state.

Introduction

A set of bronze ding (a three-legged or four-legged cauldron) inscribed with owner's name, Guo Ji: ritual vessel (bottom, height 29.8 cm-25.4 cm); Gold ornaments: (up, triangular object with dragon design, height 8.3 cm; belt buckles in the shape of animal head, length 2 cm; circular objects, outer diameter 4.2-3.7 cm); Jade pedant stringed with beads and seven pieces of Huang (a jade tablet in the shape of a semi-circle): ornament (left, about 100 cm in length)
Guo State was an important vassal state in China's Zhou Dynasty, dating back some 3,000 years ago.

1. Graveyard of State of Guo in Sanmenxia

Located in Shangling village 16 kilometers away from the north of Sanmenxia City, it was a cemetery of monarchs and nobles of the Guo State of the Zhou Dynasty, with tombs totaling 500. In 1956-1957's excavation 234 tombs of various nobles and 4 chariot pits with 9,179 precious cultural relics were discovered, of which the one of the highest scale is the tomb of the Guo Prince. Another 142 tombs of various nobles have been discovered since 1990, of which 18 big and medium tombs were discovered in 1990-1991. Among the large collection of bronze wares and jade articles excavated from the site, an iron sword with jade and bronze handle is by far the earliest man-made iron wear ever found in China.

2. Site of Shangyang City

Site of Shangyang City is the ruins of the Guo State's capital. Over 100 ruins such as city walls, moats, palaces, barns, residential sites and tombs, etc., were discovered here, together with more than 1,000 relics, including bronze wares, jade articles, stone tools, bone wares, and pottery. Besides, a well-developed water supply system and remains of copper refineries, pottery workshops and grain depots have also been unearthed.