Archaeologists in China have uncovered a set of rectangular wooden pieces believed to be linked to an ancient celestial calendar. Found in a remarkably well-preserved tomb dating back 2,000 years, these artifacts shed light on the Tiangan Dizhi, an ancient Chinese astronomical calendar established during the Shang dynasty.
Ancient Discovery
Inside the tomb located in the Wulong district, 23 wooden slips, each measuring about an inch in width and 4 inches in length, were discovered. These wooden pieces display Chinese characters related to the Tiangan Dizhi, indicating a connection to the traditional celestial calendar of the Shang dynasty.
Functionality Unclear
While it’s speculated that one slip represented the current year and the remaining 22 denoted specific years in the ancient calendar, the exact functionality of these calendrical wooden slips remains unclear. Circular perforations at the edges suggest that they were once bound together, adding to the mystery.
Unprecedented Find
This discovery marks the first instance of such objects being found in an ancient tomb. Prior to the invention of paper, writing characters on wooden or bamboo strips was a common practice in China. The tomb in the Wulong district provides a unique glimpse into this ancient tradition.
Golden Age Relics
The tomb, constructed in 193 B.C., aligns with the Western Han dynasty, considered a “golden age” in Chinese history. Archaeologist Wang Meng lauded it as the best-preserved wooden-chamber tomb ever found in China’s southwest. Over 600 cultural artifacts were uncovered, including lacquerware bowls, boxes, jars, plates, bamboo utensils, musical pipes, spears, cooking tripods, wooden figurines, as well as pottery and bronze objects.
Calendar Mystery
Astronomer Ed Krupp, director of the Griffith Observatory, noted the significance of the wooden slips with calendric notations. While the Tiangan Dizhi calendar is mainstream, the wooden slips found in the Wulong tomb are unprecedented, serving as the first and only known example of this kind of inscription on such objects. However, it appears these slips may not have functioned as a calendar but rather as references within the 60-year calendrical cycle, according to Krupp.
Status and Opulence
The artifacts in the Wulong tomb indicate a person of high status was interred there, showcasing a collection of numerous and exceptionally fine items. The richness and expense of the materials further highlight the significance of this archaeological find.