An archaeological revelation in Henan province, China, showed the presence of 24 ancient bells, known as bianzhong, which date back to more than 2,000 years ago, during the Spring and Autumn Period (770 BC). W. – 476 a. W.).
see more
Exploring new flavors: try 'vegan salmon'…
Young man shares tiring routine of customer service and…
Ancient bells found in the Chinese province (Image: Henan Provincial Institute of Cultural Heritage and Archeology/Reproduction)
The very rare artifacts were found during excavations in the ruins of an ancient city near Zhengzhou, the capital of Henan province.
It is believed that bianzhong were traditional Chinese musical instruments that were mainly used in various types of imperial rituals.
A archaeological discovery promises to provide valuable insights into cultural development during the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period in ancient China.
Guan Ping, a Beijing historian, explained that “bianzhong were used in the imperial palace as part of a ritual system.”
As these items were an important part of the ceremonies and rituals of the time, their presence in the excavations was a crucial milestone in understanding the cultural and religious practices of that era.
The discovery occurred in a sacrificial pit located near the ruins of the palace. In addition to the 24 bells, archaeologists found two tombs shaped like vertical wells and bronze vessels used in rituals.
The sacrificial pit has impressive dimensions, measuring 2.6 meters long from east to west, 1.4 meters wide from north to south and a depth of 0.8 meters.
The bianzhong, which has a history of more than 3,000 years, is made up of dozens of bronze bells of different sizes and shapes.
The bells are hung from a wooden structure and played with sticks to create varying musical harmonies.
For now, experts are eager to analyze such artifacts in more detail and uncover the secrets they may hold about ancient China.
