Pit 2 at Sanxingdui held more than sixty tusks. The layer below was filled with bronze heads and masks.

The two pits excavated at Sanxingdui in Sichuan province are among the most fascinating of recent finds in Chinese archaeology. They were discovered by workers at a local brick factory in the summer of 1986, just outside a walled settlement that had already been excavated. The two pits were filled with bronze objects, jades, and elephant tusks that had been buried (probably as offerings). The objects in Pit 1 had been burned before burial. The finds in Pit 2 (right) were in three distinct layers: on top were some sixty elephant tusks, next came large bronze objects (including Bronze standing figure and Bronze human head with gold leaf), and below were jade and stone implements, animal masks, and some smaller bronzes.

While the site, which is roughly contemporary with the tomb of Fu Hao (late Shang), needs further study, the objects clearly indicate the presence of a strong regional culture with sophisticated religious practices and advanced bronze-casting technology (see see More About Excavations at the Tomb of Fu Hao, Ivory goblet inlaid with turquoise, and Bronze owl-shaped vessel). In contrast to Shang burials, these offering pits show no evidence of human sacrifice, but they do reveal a marked interest in the human form, especially the face.

The Sanxingdui finds are exciting, but they remain enigmatic. No texts have been found, nor is there any mention of this culture in the records of other states, either during or after the late Shang period. Analysis of lead and other elements in the bronzes indicates sources similar to those of other cultures along the Lower Yangzi river basin. Some Chinese archaeologists and historians have attempted to link this culture with the later Shu culture, which was also centered in Sichuan. At this point, however, the unique culture that produced these artifacts remains a mystery.