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Towards Civilization⑨|Yin Ruins, cornerstone of China's project to trace origins of Chinese civilization
Source：dahe.cn
Published：2023-01-04 10:40
"We should attach more importance to and put more efforts on archaeological research to carry forward the project of tracing the origins of Chinese civilization," stressed Chinese President Xi Jinping during his recent inspection tour to Anyang city, Henan province. Henan, cradle of the Chinese nation and civilization, is not only the birthplace of modern Chinese archaeology, but also the core area for tracing the origins of Chinese civilization. Together with the Development and Reform Commission of Henan Province and the Administration of Cultural Heritage of Henan Province, we are launching the "Towards Civilization" bilingual series featuring 13 key archaeological sites in Henan to help you catch a glimpse of wonderful Henan and brilliant Chinese civilization. Here is the 9th episode of the series: Yin Ruins, cornerstone of China's project to trace origins of Chinese civilization.
近日，习近平总书记考察了殷墟遗址，提出考古工作要继续重视和加强，继续深化中华文明探源工程。河南是中华民族和中华文明的重要发祥地，中国现代考古学从河南起步，中华文明探源从河南开始。2022年11月5日起，大河网联合省发展改革委、省文物局推出《追寻文明的足迹》系列报道，一起走进厚重河南。今日推出第九期：《中华文明探源工程的原点和基石——殷墟》。
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Yin Ruins has been confirmed by historic documents, archaeological excavations and oracle bone inscriptions as the capital site of the late Shang Dynasty (1600-1046 BC), bringing recorded Chinese history nearly 1,000 years earlier than previously believed.
殷墟是中国历史上第一个有文献记载、并为考古发掘与甲骨文所证实的都城遗址，殷墟及甲骨文的重大发现把中国信史向前推进了近千年。
The remains of imperial palaces and ancestral temples. [Photo provided to dahe.cn]
Yin Ruins, a key component of the 5,000-year-old Chinese civilization and the history of world civilization, has provided solid evidence for the continuity and pluralistic and integrated pattern of Chinese civilization. Yin Ruins consists of various sites and rich remains, such as the remains of imperial palaces and ancestral temples, mausoleums, Hougang site, capital site of the mid Shang Dynasty in the north of the Huanhe River, settlements of different clans, cemeteries of different families, sacrificial pits, oracle bone pits, workshops, etc. So far, a large number of exquisite cultural relics, including oracle bones, bronze wares, jade articles, etc., have been unearthed. All of them reflect the rich cultural connotations of Yin Ruins.
殷墟是中华五千年文明史中的重要节点，是中华文明连续不断、多元一体的重要实证，也是世界文明史中重要一环。殷墟现存有殷墟宫殿宗庙遗址、王陵遗址、后冈遗址、洹北商城遗址和众多族邑聚落遗址、家族墓地群、祭祀坑、甲骨窖穴、手工业作坊遗址等，出土数量丰富的甲骨文、青铜器、玉器等精美文物，构成了殷墟丰富的文化内涵。
The remains of imperial palaces and ancestral temples. [Photo provided to dahe.cn]
Treasure found at the remains -- capital sites with complete facilities, splendid palace complex, large-scale royal mausoleums, extremely exquisite bronze wares and the earliest Chinese characters – has become an important symbol of Chinese civilization. With the discovery of Yin Ruins and oracle bone inscriptions, ancient China is recognized as one of the four great ancient civilizations of the world, together with ancient Egypt, Babylon and India.
殷墟遗址所揭示的设施完备的都城遗址、气势恢宏的宫殿群、规模庞大的王陵区、高度发达的青铜器、系统成熟的古汉字，成为中华文明重要象征。殷墟及甲骨文的发现和发掘，使古代中国能够与古埃及、古巴比伦、古印度并称为世界四大文明古国。
A bronze ware unearthed at the Yin Ruins. [Photo provided to dahe.cn]
As the largest and longest continually excavated archaeological site with the most abundant unearthed cultural relics in China, Yin Ruins topped China's 100 greatest archaeological discoveries of the 20th century in 2001 and was also selected into China's top 100 archaeological discoveries of the past century in 2021.
殷墟是我国考古发掘持续时间最长、发掘面积最大、次数最多、出土文物最丰富的遗址。2001年，殷墟在“中国20世纪100项考古大发现”评选活动中名列第一；2021年，中国现代考古学百年之际，在“百年百大考古发现”评选中，殷墟再次被列入其中。
An ox-shaped bronze ware unearthed at the Yin Ruins. [Photo provided to dahe.cn]
New progress has been made at Yin Ruins in recent years. The discovery of the garden remains refreshes the previous understanding of the distribution and overall layout of the palace area. The remains of workshops for bronze wares and bone tools at the capital site in the north of the Huanhe River presents a general picture of the "industrial park" of the mid Shang Dynasty. It is worth noting that the bronze casting remains, courtyard ruins and tombs of the late Shang Dynasty discovered at Xindian site, about 10 kilometers north of the palace area, provide important data for the study of low-density urban development in China and even in the world.
近年来，殷墟考古不断取得新突破。殷墟宫殿区内池苑遗址的发现，丰富了学术界对于殷墟宫殿区内遗迹分布和整体布局的认识；洹北商城制陶、制骨作坊的发现，揭开了中商时期“工业园区”的面貌；特别是殷墟外围的辛店晚商铸铜遗址、商代晚期院落及墓葬的重大发现，为研究中国乃至世界上低密度化城市发展提供了重要的资料。（编译/赵汉青 播音/杨佳欣 视频/何蒙贺 审校/丁岚）
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Editor：Zhao Hanqing