Chinese archaeologists have discovered the remains of a lost city at the Zhaigou excavation site in northern Shaanxi province (China). Previously, people regularly found mysterious artifacts in this area, the origin of which scientists could not explain.

The Bronze Age settlement is spread over 11 hills and covers an area of ​​more than 3 square kilometers. Many features of its structure indicate that it was a great hub, perhaps even a capital.

The remains from the excavation site are more than 3000 years old. This means it was built during the Shang Dynasty, which ruled from 1554 to 1046 BC. Among the many artifacts found were bronze drinking vessels, painted pottery, turquoise-encrusted jewellery, several horse-drawn chariots and more – just over 200 pieces.

Provincial residents have also found various remains since the 1940s. Before that, it was impossible for scientists to understand where they came from, but now they have an answer – they are everyday objects of the citizens of the ancient city.

Last year we also discovered numerous tombs and large-scale structures in the area. This time we were more lucky and opened a full settlement.

These are the nine tombs excavated in Zhaigou in 2022. Seven of them are passages. This indicates that they belong to local chiefs.

Passages in tombs symbolize the high social status of the people buried in them. Buildings with various purposes were also found here, including craft workshops and pottery kilns.