The Erlitou Site Museum of the Xia Capital in Luoyang, Henan Province Photo: VCG

Erlitou Ruins: a glimpse into the Xia Dynasty

The Erlitou Ruins located in Luoyang, Henan Province, is one of the highlighted sites in China's national research program to assess the origins of Chinese civilization. 

While records about the Xia Dynasty (c.2070BC-c.1600BC) appear in multiple ancient works of history, a lack of physical evidence often made its existence a subject of debate among historians and archaeologists. However, the discovery of the Erlitou Culture, which existed in the Yellow River valley from approximately 1900BC to 1500BC, suggests that the Xia Dynasty actually existed. As more discoveries about this culture are being made, the more prevalent this perspective is becoming among historians and archaeologists.  

The ruins were first discovered by Chinese archaeologist Xu Xusheng in 1959. Through continuous research from the early 1960s to the end of the 1970s, researchers uncovered the foundations of two major palace complexes among the ruins, leading them to believe the site was once a capital city of the Xia Dynasty. Archaeologists conducted a series of restoration excavations from the 1980s to the 1990s, while more focused digs have been conducted at the site since the 1990s, leading to exciting discoveries such as the remains of a turquoise ware workshop.

The Erlitou site contains cultural relics stemming from the Yangshao and Longshan cultures about 5,000 years ago to the Eastern Zhou (770BC-256BC) and Han dynasties (206BC-AD220). 

The ruins are home to the earliest bronze-making scene ever discovered in China. One of the most famous bronze wares unearthed at the ruins is a bronze jue (ancient wine vessel). It is called as "The First jue of Huaxia [the Chinese nation]."  

In January 2021, a well-preserved tomb that contains a precious jade relic was discovered at the Erlitou site. 

The Erlitou Site Museum of the Xia Capital in Luoyang hosts more than 2,000 items excavated from the Erlitou site, providing visitors a glimpse into the first dynasty of ancient China.

Global Times