Ancient site · Settlement
Jinsha
Jinsha, in the western suburbs of Chengdu, Sichuan, was discovered by chance in February 2001 during building work. It became the main centre of the Chengdu Plain after the decline of Sanxingdui, and is often described as a capital of the ancient Shu.
Excavations found thousands of gold, bronze, jade, stone and ivory objects, many in ritual deposits. Its best-known find, a thin gold disc with four birds circling a sun, was chosen as a symbol of Chinese cultural heritage. A museum now stands over the excavation.
- Dates
- c. 1200–800 BCE (Shi'erqiao phase)
- Still standing
- No, or only traces
- Location
- 30.68° N, 104.01° E
How we know
No writing has been found; the site is dated by radiocarbon and pottery styles since its discovery in 2001.
Nearby sites
- Sanxingdui c. 1700–1150 BCE (sacrificial pits 12th–11th centuries BCE)
- Dujiangyan built c. 256 BCE; still in use
- Banpo c. 4700–3600 BCE
- Mausoleum of Qin Shi Huang and the Terracotta Army 246–209 BCE
- Pengtoushan c. 7500–6100 BCE
- Taosi c. 2300–1900 BCE