The largest ancient bronze vase ever found, dating back to BC 11th
century, has been discovered by a child on a riverside in Ningxiang
County in central China’s Hunan Province.
The vase, 61 cm in height, 60 cm in diameter at its mouth and 88 cm
in the middle, was found by an unidentified child on the sandy
riverside along the Weishui River in Huangcai Township.
Experts with the Hunan Provincial Institute of Archeology believe
the bronze vase was made in the late Shang Dynasty (approximately
BC 16th century to BC 11th century) and early Zhou Dynasty (about
BC 11th century to BC 771).
Markings of animals were engraved all over the vase with eight
representing dragons on its shoulders.
The location where the vase was found is less than one kilometer
from the Tanheli relics site, where a large number of bronze vases
dating back to Shang Dynasty have been unearthed.
He
Jiejun, an archeologist with the institute, said the vase, which is
classified as a small jar, was used as a drinking vessel during the
two dynasties.
(Xinhua News Agency 07/02/2001)