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Ancient Chinese horse-head sacrifice reveals elite rituals

By PulseAugur Editorial · [1 sources] ·

Scientists in China's Zhejiang province have unearthed a horse's head preserved in a pottery jar at an ancient ritual site. This discovery, dating back to the Eastern Zhou dynasty (770–256 BC), suggests that the Yue state conducted organized, state-sponsored sacrificial rituals. The unique burial method, with the skull in a jar rather than interred in a pit, indicates the sacrifice was of high importance and overseen by the elite of Yue society, highlighting the value placed on horses during that period. AI

RANK_REASON Discovery of an ancient artifact and its implications for understanding historical traditions. [lever_c_demoted from research: ic=1 ai=0.0]

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Ancient Chinese horse-head sacrifice reveals elite rituals

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Discovery of an ancient artifact and its implications for understanding historical traditions. [lever_c_demoted from research: ic=1 ai=0.0]
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COVERAGE [1]

  1. SCMP — Tech TIER_1 English(EN) · Kevin McSpadden ·

    Chinese scientists’ horse-head discovery sheds light on ancient elite sacrificial traditions

    From the ancient Aztecs’ efforts to appease the sun god to Apollo’s demands in the Iliad, human history is permeated with traditions of sacrifice, and China was no exception. In Zhejiang province, eastern China, scientists recently announced the discovery of a horse’s head sealed…

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