China Museum Showcases Ancient Hebei Treasures

Hebei's archaeological landscape extends back to the Neolithic Hongshan culture, a civilization that thrived in the region between 5,000 and 6,500 years ago. Recent discoveries at the Zhengjiagou site in Hebei have unearthed over 600 ritual objects, including jade, pottery, and stone items, revealing the culture's southwestward expansion. Excavations at Hongshan sites in Hebei have yielded a variety of artifacts, including distinctive jade pieces like cloud-hook forms and rings, alongside ceramic figurines and stone tools. Some discoveries, such as unique sacrificial pits and an "Earth Mother" symbol linked to fertility worship, are firsts for Hongshan archaeology, highlighting the region's distinct cultural characteristics. One of the most significant discoveries in Hebei remains the Han Dynasty (206 BC - 220 AD) tombs found in Mancheng county in 1968. These undisturbed mountain-side tombs belonged to Prince Liu Sheng, a son of Emperor Jing Di, and his consort Dou Wan, and are considered one of the most important Chinese archaeological finds of the 20th century. The Mancheng tombs yielded spectacular treasures, most famously two complete burial suits made from thousands of individual jade plaques sewn together with gold thread. It was believed that jade would prevent the body from decaying. The suit of Liu Sheng was composed of 2,498 jade pieces and 1,100 grams of gold thread. Beyond the jade suits, the tombs contained over 2,700 other artifacts, showcasing the wealth and artistry of the Western Han period. Notable items include the iconic gilded bronze Changxin Palace Lantern, intricate bronze vessels, lacquerware, and hundreds of pottery pieces, all intended to serve the prince and his wife in the afterlife.