Huanbei
| 洹北 | |
 .svg.png){kind=icon} Shown within China | |
| Location | China |
|---|---|
| Region | Henan |
| Coordinates | 36°08′N 114°20′E / 36.13°N 114.34°ECoordinates: 36°08′N 114°20′E / 36.13°N 114.34°E |
| Type | walled city |
| Area | 510 ha |
| History | |
| Founded | c. 1350 BCE |
| Abandoned | c. 1300 BCE |
Huanbei (Chinese: 洹北; pinyin: Huánběi) is the site of an ancient Shang dynasty city on the northern outskirts of the modern city of Anyang in Henan province, China. It was discovered in 2000, and dates to the Middle Shang period (ca. 1450-1250 B.C.). The name refers to its position to the north (běi) of the Huan River.
The discovery was made after a regional survey undertaken in 1999 by the Institute of Archaeology at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences and the Archaeometry Laboratory at the University of Minnesota.
This huge ancient city was buried eight feet beneath the surface when found. The city has walls of pounded earth forming an approximate square oriented 13 degrees east of north, with an area of 470 hectares (1,200 acres), including a palace-temple complex of 41 hectares (100 acres). Part of the site lies under Anyang's airport, limiting the scope of excavations.
The city seems to have been burnt to the ground after 50 years of occupation, shortly before the construction of the last Shang dynasty capital at the site now known as Yinxu across the river.
The city has since been excavated by joint teams from Institute of Archaeology at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, the University of Minnesota, the University of Wisconsin and the University of British Columbia.
References
- Harrington, Spencer P.M. (May–June 2000). "Shang City Uncovered". Archaeology (Archaeological Institute of America) 53 (3).
- Jarus, Owen (17 May 2010). "Torched Shang Dynasty City Huanbei Was Destroyed by its Own Rulers". Heritage Key. Retrieved 12 January 2013.
- Li, Feng (2013). Early China: A Social and Cultural History. Cambridge University Press. pp. 81–83. ISBN 978-0-521-89552-1.
- Sawyer, Ralph D.; Sawyer, Mei-chün (2011). Ancient Chinese Warfare. Basic Books. p. 144. ISBN 978-0-465-02145-1.
- Tang, Jigen; Jing, Zhichun; Liu, Zhongfu; Yue, Zhanwei (2004). trans. by Jing Zhichun. "Survey and Test Excavation of the Huanbei Shang City in Anyang" (PDF). Chinese Archaeology 4: 1–20.
- Tang, Jigen; Yue, Hongbin; He, Yuling; Yue, Zhanwei (2004). trans. by Jing Zhichun. "A Brief Report on the Excavation of Palatial Compound F1 at the Huanbei Shang City in Anyang, Henan" (PDF). Chinese Archaeology 4: 21–28.