Golden ceremonial masks dating back 3,000 years, possibly worn by a priest and used for sacrificial purposes, are among more than 500 items unearthed in six rectangular pits in

The priceless cultural relics, unearthed at the Sanxingdui archaeological site in southwest China’s Sichuan province, also include bird-shaped ornaments, two types of silk, and a bronze statue adorned with depictions of “beasts.” .

Only about half of the gold mask is still completely intact, but experts believe it is about 84 percent pure gold and in its original state weighed about 500 grams (one pound).

Another gold mask, found in sacrificial pit “number three”, has a similar design but is remarkably preserved and almost completely intact.

Researchers who began excavating the site in 2019 said most of the 500 items were made of gold, bronze, jade and ivory, according to the South China Morning Post.

They believe that members of an as-yet-unknown civilization may have used the pits for sacrificial purposes, and that the objects now found within them were ritually burned before being buried.

A partial gold mask unearthed at the Sanxingdui ruins site in southwest China’s Sichuan province. Chinese archaeologists announced Saturday that some new discoveries have been made at the Sanxingdui ruins site in southwest China.

A golden mask discovered in the “number three” sacrificial pit of the Sanxingdui ruins in southwest China’s Sichuan province.

Close-up of the intact and well-preserved golden mask discovered in sacrificial pit number three of the Sanxingdui ruins.

The findings were shared in a blog post by the government of Chengdu, capital of Sichuan province in southwestern China.

Sanxingdui is a well-known archaeological site and tourist spot on the outskirts of Chengdu.

The mask and other interesting new finds “will help deepen the understanding of the cultural relationship between the Chengdu Plain and surrounding areas,” according to officials, although there is still much mystery surrounding the golden mask.

“Currently, it is inferred that this golden mask is also used for sacrifices, but because it is much larger than a human face, it is unlikely to be worn by a person,” said an anonymous expert quoted in the publication.

The gold mask seen here in the ruins is among more than 500 relics found at prehistoric Sanxingdui, a well-known archaeological site and tourist spot on the outskirts of the city of Chengdu.

The photo taken on Sept. 2, 2021 shows a part of a bronze altar discovered at sacrificial pit number eight of the Sanxingdui ruins site.

“At the moment it is still impossible to draw an exact conclusion and more archaeological excavations are needed.”

If the total weight of this golden mask was more than 500 grams, it would make it the largest golden mask found in China, as well as the heaviest golden object found in the country.

The mask was found in pit number five of six, but two other pits, seven and eight, are now also being dug, which could reveal the other half.

In sacrificial pit number three, a “rare, well-preserved and exquisitely decorated” square bronze statue, nicknamed “Big Mouth,” was unearthed.

Sanxingdui is a well-known archaeological site and tourist spot on the outskirts of Chengdu city, Sichuan province.

In the photo, ‘Big Mouth’, a typical southern style bronze piece from the late Shang dynasty. The Shang ruled from 1600 to 1046 BC. C. and announced the Bronze Age in China.

The two-foot-tall statue, which is in a typical southern style from the late Shang dynasty that ruled in the second millennium BC. C., is decorated with heads of animals and birds.

“The complete square bronze statue has never been seen before at the Sanxingdui site,” the Chengdu government says in the post.

Archaeologists said they found two types of silk: one in the ashes of the sacrificial pit with a large amount of silk traces and another wrapped around bronze tableware.

The function of silk was elevated “to a metaphysical level,” according to the article, when it was used for sacrificial purposes.

“Silk serves as a vehicle and medium of communication between heaven, earth, man and God,” he says.

‘The oldest silk should not be used to make beautiful clothes, it should be used to communicate with the world, people and gods.

An archaeologist works at the No. 8 sacrificial pit of the Sanxingdui ruins site in southwest China’s Sichuan province, Sept. 2, 2021.

A delicate gold bird-shaped ornament found during recent excavations. The findings will help deepen understanding of “the cultural relationship between the Chengdu Plain and its surroundings,” experts say.

‘Sacred Bronze Tree’. The Sanxingdui site has vestiges of a “very bright and splendid bronze civilization,” according to the Chengdu government.

“Silk, silkworms and mulberry embody the concept of harmony between man and nature with Chinese characteristics.”

Sanxingdui was first found in 1929. In 1986, during a major excavation, two ceremonial pits containing more than 1,000 objects were discovered, according to CNN.

One of the objects unearthed from sacrificial pit number two in 1986 was a well-preserved bronze sculpture of a human head with a gold mask, currently housed in the Sanxingdui Museum.

A third well was found at the end of 2019 and another five wells were found last year.

A bronze sculpture of a human head with a gold mask at the Sanxingdui Museum in southwest China’s Sichuan province. The sculpture was unearthed from sacrificial pit number two2 at the Sanxingdui ruins site in 1986.

Excavation equipment pictured here at the Sanxingdui site in Guanghan city, southwest China’s Sichuan province, March 19, 2021.

Archaeologists use equipment to remotely observe sacrificial pit number five. Members of an as yet unknown civilization may have used the wells for sacrificial purposes.

Archaeologists use their ‘multifunctional archaeological operating system’ on March 20 at the Sanxingdui archaeological excavation site.