Ancient site · City
Zhengzhou Shang City
Also known as Erligang
Under modern Zhengzhou in Henan lie the remains of a great city of the Erligang culture, the early phase of the Shang dynasty. Found in 1950, it was enclosed by massive rammed-earth walls, parts of which still stand in the modern city, and archaeologists have dug outside them since 1952.
Large bronze ding cauldrons from the site show the wealth of its rulers. It was probably one of the early Shang capitals, but scholars disagree whether it was the capital called Bo or Ao in later texts. It was occupied in four phases from about 1600 to 1400 BCE.
- Dates
- c. 1600–1400 BCE
- Still standing
- Yes
- Location
- 34.75° N, 113.69° E
How we know
The city is dated by radiocarbon and pottery phases; very little writing has been found there, so which Shang capital it was is uncertain.
Nearby sites
- Peiligang c. 7000–5000 BCE (Peiligang culture)
- Erlitou c. 1750–1500 BCE (older estimates from c. 1900 BCE)
- Jiahu c. 7000–5700 BCE
- Yinxu (Anyang) c. 1250–1046 BCE
- Taosi c. 2300–1900 BCE
- Mausoleum of Qin Shi Huang and the Terracotta Army 246–209 BCE