Yinxu slowly reveals its secrets
More complete picture of ancient capital emerges as archaeologists unearth detailed road network, Wang Ru reports.
Almost a century after excavations began at the Yinxu Ruins in Anyang, Henan province, new findings continue to refresh understanding of this remarkable page in Chinese history.
In its latest announcement about discoveries at the late Shang Dynasty (c. 16th century-11th century BC) capital site, the National Cultural Heritage Administration said that archaeologists have found a road system with at least three east-west and three north-south roads on the northern bank of the Huanhe River (now known as the Anyang River), among which is a north-south road believed to have been a traffic artery.
Spread across the north and south banks of the Huanhe River in the suburbs of Anyang, Yinxu covers about 30 square kilometers.
Niu Shishan, a researcher at the Institute of Archaeology at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, who is leading the team at the Yinxu Ruins, says they have found multiple road ditches (where roads have sunk with vegetation now growing on them) and other ditches in recent years.
