On October 19, during an academic presentation at the 21st Annual Conference of the Chinese Archaeological Society in Sichuan’s Guanghan, Ye Runqing, a researcher from the Anhui Provincial Institute of Archaeology, highlighted the significant archaeological findings regarding the Xia, Shang, and Zhou dynasties in the Anhui region. He underscored the area’s crucial role as a “Golden Road” for the transportation and cultural exchange of copper and tin.

Ye explained that the term “Golden Road” is an archaeological concept referring to the trade routes for transporting bronze raw materials from the lower reaches of the Yangtze River to the central plains during the Xia, Shang, and Zhou dynasties. This system marked the state’s control over the distribution of these essential resources.

In his presentation titled “Recent Progress in Xia, Shang, and Zhou Archaeology in Anhui,” Ye noted that archaeological work in Anhui has primarily focused on three key areas: the civilization of the middle Yangtze River, research on Xia culture, and archaeological studies in the Haidai region during the Xia, Shang, and Zhou periods.

Recently uncovered sites in Anhui include the Longshan cultural site in Yuhui village, Bengbu, which is the largest known site of its kind in the Huai River basin. Findings there, including ceremonial structures and ritual remains, provide archaeological evidence for the significant historical event known as “Yu Meeting the Lords” and may unveil more about the ancient state of Tushan.

Another notable discovery is at the Doujitai cultural site in Shou County, where an unprecedented quantity of bronze artifacts from the Xia and Shang period has been found, suggesting it may be a key site for understanding bronze ritual practices and historical narratives such as “Jie fleeing to the south.”

Additionally, over 20 sites featuring the Yue stone culture have been discovered in the Huai River basin, and cultural remains from the Dazhalan site in Ma’anshan have been excavated, further expanding knowledge on bronze smelting and metal production in the region.

Ye concluded that these archaeological developments demonstrate the close relationships between Anhui and the central plains, as well as the southeastern regions during the Xia dynasty, solidifying Anhui’s vital role in the study of ancient Chinese civilization. The findings present valuable evidence for understanding the interactions of ancient states like the Huaiyi, Wu, and Yue, particularly in contexts related to bronze manufacturing, burial customs, and sociopolitical structures during the Xia, Shang, and Zhou eras.