# Why were the Sanxingdui objects broken, burned and buried? · Sanxingdui and its sacrificial pits > 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… Source: https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/sanxingdui/questions/QST0D739VYG5PHX/why-were-the-sanxingdui-objects-broken-burned-and-buried Publisher: Mysteries Department Licence: CC BY 4.0 (credit Mysteries Department and link the page) Updated: 2026-10-26T11:58:42+00:00 --- **0** # Why were the Sanxingdui objects broken, burned and buried? Asked 26 Oct 2026 by [**apollo** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/u/apollo)·4 answers·0·0 following **Most likely: the objects were offerings, broken and burned in rites and buried in the sacrificial area** Ahead 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]](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D739NV63J28/trove-of-13-000-artifacts-sheds-light-on-enigmatic-chinese)⁠[[2]](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D739QSP3TWD/sacrificial-pits-or-pits-of-a-destroyed-state-the-clash-of)⁠[[3]](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D739NKC6SYN/differentiation-of-ritual-practices-through-bronze-artifact). ## Answers 4 [**The objects were offerings, broken and burned in rites and buried in the sacrificial area.** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/sanxingdui/answers/ANS0D739WXR5CJX/the-objects-were-offerings-broken-and-burned-in-rites-and) Partly supported by its tests Evidence: 3 for Most likely [**None of these.** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/sanxingdui/answers/ANS0D739YW82ZR7/none-of-these) Not tested enough to call either way Evidence: none yet Still possible [**The objects were ritually retired when a temple was refurbished or the centre moved, and buried with care.** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/sanxingdui/answers/ANS0D739YCM34J6/the-objects-were-ritually-retired-when-a-temple-was) Not tested enough to call either way Evidence: 1 for Still possible [**The pits hold the regalia and cult images of a regime, destroyed and buried after conquest or overthrow.** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/sanxingdui/answers/ANS0D739XX00M3W/the-pits-hold-the-regalia-and-cult-images-of-a-regime) Not tested enough to call either way Evidence: 1 for Still possible ## History 1. 2021[Tang puts forward: the pits hold the regalia and cult images of a regime, destroyed and buried after conquest or overthrow.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D739QSP3TWD/sacrificial-pits-or-pits-of-a-destroyed-state-the-clash-of) 1. 2022[Solly puts forward: the objects were ritually retired when a temple was refurbished or the centre moved, and buried with care.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D739NV63J28/trove-of-13-000-artifacts-sheds-light-on-enigmatic-chinese) 1. 2022[Archaeological Team of the Sacrificial Area of the Sanxingdui Site: pits lie together in an area the excavators call the sacrificial area.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D739Q282C0Z/the-sacrificial-area-of-the-sanxingdui-site-in-guanghan-city)For: The objects were offerings, broken and burned in rites and buried in the sacrificial area. 1. 2022[Solly: traces of bamboo, reeds, soybeans, cattle and boar accompany the objects, read as offerings.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D739NV63J28/trove-of-13-000-artifacts-sheds-light-on-enigmatic-chinese)For: The objects were offerings, broken and burned in rites and buried in the sacrificial area. 1. 2022[Solly: jinsha, about 50 km away, has similar objects and is seen as the next centre.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D739NV63J28/trove-of-13-000-artifacts-sheds-light-on-enigmatic-chinese)For: The objects were ritually retired when a temple was refurbished or the centre moved, and buried with care. 1. 2025[He puts forward: the objects were offerings, broken and burned in rites and buried in the sacrificial area.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D739NKC6SYN/differentiation-of-ritual-practices-through-bronze-artifact) 1. 2025[He: the bronzes fall into two assemblages matching rites of communication with another world and other rites.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D739NKC6SYN/differentiation-of-ritual-practices-through-bronze-artifact)For: The objects were offerings, broken and burned in rites and buried in the sacrificial area. 1. 2025[Lian et al.: all eight pits are placed in one period, about 3200–3000 BP.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D739MVY6VCB/deciphering-the-origins-of-sanxingdui-bronzes-through)For: The pits hold the regalia and cult images of a regime, destroyed and buried after conquest or overthrow. 1. 26 Oct 2026Asked on this site ## Discussion 0 [Add to the discussion](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/sanxingdui/questions/QST0D739VYG5PHX/why-were-the-sanxingdui-objects-broken-burned-and-buried%23discussion) Help with this question [ **Propose an answer** Something the evidence could support or rule out ] [ **Propose an answer** Something the evidence could support or rule out ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/sanxingdui/questions/QST0D739VYG5PHX/why-were-the-sanxingdui-objects-broken-burned-and-buried%23add-answer) [ **Add evidence** A result for or against an answer ] [ **Add evidence** A result for or against an answer ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/sanxingdui/questions/QST0D739VYG5PHX/why-were-the-sanxingdui-objects-broken-burned-and-buried%23add-evidence) [ **Ask a sub-question** A smaller question that would help settle this one ] [ **Ask a sub-question** A smaller question that would help settle this one ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/sanxingdui/questions/QST0D739VYG5PHX/why-were-the-sanxingdui-objects-broken-burned-and-buried%23add-question) [ **Add a source** A paper, archive record or image ] [ **Add a source** A paper, archive record or image ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/sanxingdui/questions/QST0D739VYG5PHX/why-were-the-sanxingdui-objects-broken-burned-and-buried%23add-source) Where it fits Sanxingdui and its sacrificial pits **Why were the Sanxingdui objects broken, burned and buried?** Key question · you're here [Why was Sanxingdui abandoned?](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/sanxingdui/questions/QST0D739WNY79DE/why-was-sanxingdui-abandoned)Open · 3 answers, inconclusive [ Ask a question under this one ]