Chinese scientists’ horse-head discovery sheds light on ancient elite sacrificial traditions
The sacrifice was an elaborate procedure, indicating it was of utmost importance to the highest echelons of ancient society
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 inside pottery at an ancient ritual site, dating back to the Eastern Zhou dynasty (770–256 BC).
The Eastern Zhou dynasty encompassed both the Spring and Autumn Period (770–476 BC) and the Warring States Period (475–221 BC). The Yue state, a significant region during this era, was renowned for its advanced metalwork, particularly in sword-making.
According to China’s National Cultural Heritage Administration, this finding suggests that the Yue state, which thrived during the first millennium BC, conducted organised, state-sponsored sacrificial rituals.