TITLE:
A Probe into the Phenomenon of Human Sacrifice in the Neolithic Age in Chengdu Plain, China
AUTHORS:
Yining Ding
KEYWORDS:
Ancient Shu, Yingpanshan Culture, Baodun Culture, Human Sacrifice
JOURNAL NAME:
Archaeological Discovery,
Vol.11 No.3,
July
7,
2023
ABSTRACT: This article delves into the Neolithic Age phenomenon of human sacrifice in Chengdu Plain. The innovative aspects of the article include: first, we have summarized and categorized the phenomenon of human sacrifice in the Yingpanshan and Baodun cultures; second, we have identified that some relics previously deemed as ordinary tombs may actually be human sacrificial remains; third, we have classified the human sacrificial pits in the Yingpanshan and Baodun cultures based on their function; and fourth, we have synthesized the discussions of previous scholars on the phenomenon of human sacrifice in early China and analyzed the sacrificial purposes and spiritual connotations of human sacrifice relics found in the Yingpanshan and Baodun cultures. This article serves as a useful reference and provides inspiration for academic circles to explore the potential succession relationship between the Yingpanshan and Baodun cultures.