The discovery of copper smelting sites during the Xia and Shang dynasties in Shanxi is of great significance to the study of the early copper smelting industry pattern in China.
On October 14, during the 4th China Archaeology “Xiyin Forum” international academic seminar titled “Bronze Smelting and Xia-Shang Civilization”, Associate Researcher Cui Junjun from the Shanxi Provincial Archaeological Research Institute unveiled significant findings related to the Dongxiafeng copper smelting site from the Xia-Shang period. This site, which has yielded a wealth of copper smelting relics, holds great importance for understanding the landscape of early bronze metallurgy in China.
Located in Dongxiafeng Village, North of the Xia County in Yuncheng City, Shanxi Province, the Dongxiafeng site is currently one of the largest identified settlements from the Xia-Shang period in southern Shanxi. It is a key site for researching the formation and development of early state societies. Under significant national research initiatives such as “Archaeological China: Research on Xia Culture”, the Shanxi Archaeological Research Institute has been systematically investigating and surveying the site to ascertain the distribution of its underground relics.
Since June 2022, archaeologists have excavated over 80 ash pits and 13 house foundations from the Xia period at the site, along with a rich array of artifacts including pottery, bone tools, and stone implements. These stone artifacts range from finished products to semi-finished items, rough materials, tools, as well as a variety of production waste, thereby covering multiple stages of stone tool production. It is inferred that this area served as a site for preliminary stone processing and the production of heavy tools such as stone axes during the Xia period.
A significant discovery at the site is a well-preserved “pit-style” kiln courtyard. This courtyard consists of five kilns, two storage rooms, a well, and an outdoor cooking area, which is oriented north-south, with the entrance located on the southern side. The layout forms a north-south central axis along with the well in the middle and the largest kiln to the north. The doors of the kilns and storage rooms all face towards the well, creating a clearly structured “pit-style” kiln courtyard from the Xia period.
Artifacts unearthed from the “pit courtyard” include Xia period pottery, stone tools, bone implements, oracle bones, turquoise, small bronze items, and materials related to copper smelting. Numerous relics were discovered in the abandoned deposits of the “pit courtyard,” while artifacts from the usage phase and nearby ash pits were relatively scarce. Additionally, over 3,000 items associated with copper smelting have been found at the site, predominantly consisting of copper ore, copper smelting slag, and clay furnace walls.
Cui Junjun stated that the discovery at Dongxiafeng provides new material to understand the settlement’s transformation over time and helps to construct a chronological framework for the Xia-Shang period. The abundant copper smelting relics are crucial for studying the landscape of early bronze metallurgy in China, further enhancing our understanding of the historical significance of the “Xia Market” in southern Shanxi and its vital role in the development of Chinese civilization.