Mysteries Department
Sign inRequest access
0

Why were the Sanxingdui objects broken, burned and buried?

Asked 26 Oct 2026 by ·4 answers·0·0 following
Most likely: the objects were offerings, broken and burned in rites and buried in the sacrificial areaAhead on the evidence, not yet confirmed. It needs two reviews to be accepted.

Where it stands

Four answers have been proposed. The objects were offerings, broken and burned in rites and buried in the sacrificial area. leads, with evidence 3 for: partly supported by its tests. Three are still possible. Of the one narrower question under it, none is answered yet.

Why it matters

The pits are the main source for Sanxingdui; how they formed decides whether they record religion, politics or both⁠[1]⁠[2]⁠[3].

Answers 4

Evidence: 3 for
Most likely
None of these.
Not tested enough to call either way
Evidence: none yet
Still possible
Evidence: 1 for
Still possible
Evidence: 1 for
Still possible

History

  1. Tang puts forward: the pits hold the regalia and cult images of a regime, destroyed and buried after conquest or overthrow.
  2. Solly puts forward: the objects were ritually retired when a temple was refurbished or the centre moved, and buried with care.
  3. Archaeological Team of the Sacrificial Area of the Sanxingdui Site: pits lie together in an area the excavators call the sacrificial area.For: The objects were offerings, broken and burned in rites and buried in the sacrificial area.
  4. Solly: traces of bamboo, reeds, soybeans, cattle and boar accompany the objects, read as offerings.For: The objects were offerings, broken and burned in rites and buried in the sacrificial area.
  5. Solly: jinsha, about 50 km away, has similar objects and is seen as the next centre.For: The objects were ritually retired when a temple was refurbished or the centre moved, and buried with care.
  6. He puts forward: the objects were offerings, broken and burned in rites and buried in the sacrificial area.
  7. He: the bronzes fall into two assemblages matching rites of communication with another world and other rites.For: The objects were offerings, broken and burned in rites and buried in the sacrificial area.
  8. Lian et al.: all eight pits are placed in one period, about 3200–3000 BP.For: The pits hold the regalia and cult images of a regime, destroyed and buried after conquest or overthrow.
  9. Asked on this site
Add evidence
1What it bears on2What you found3Where it comes from
Which answer?
Does it count for or against it?
In a sentence, what did you find?
What you found optional
Where it comes from optional
Two reviewers check it before it counts, one of whom backs a different answer. You'll hear back by email: accepted, needs changes, or a duplicate.
Propose an answer
Your answer, in a sentence
What would rule it out? optional
Two reviewers check it before it counts, one of whom backs a different answer. You'll hear back by email: accepted, needs changes, or a duplicate.
Ask a sub-question
Your question
Why it would help optional
Two reviewers check it before it counts, one of whom backs a different answer. You'll hear back by email: accepted, needs changes, or a duplicate.
Add a source
The source
What it shows about this question optional
Two reviewers check it before it counts, one of whom backs a different answer. You'll hear back by email: accepted, needs changes, or a duplicate.

Discussion 0

Add to the discussion