A long-forgotten enigma has resurfaced in the Sichuan province of China after the discovery of silk threads during chronological culture excavations of the Sanxingdui ruins. These threads were believed to be fabricated in heaven and were discovered in traces of sacrificial rituals. How is it that silk threads for so many centuries have survived so many events intact? To many that borders on the cusp of bewilderment. What other information did these threads provide about the Shu people and their philosophy towards silk? There are many unanswered questions. Let us unravel this captivating mystery that encompasses history, myths, and science together.
Silk in the Ashes: A Discovery 3,000 Years in the Making
The Sanxingdui Museum includes the Sanxingdui Research Institute and the China National Silk Museum archaeologists. When they started excavating the sanctuaries of Sanxingdui, the surprising outcome was astonishing. The layers of artifacts and some bronzes with silk fabric traces, that had never previously been discovered at the site, were in use. Among the artifacts, one grid-like ware artifact first appeared in the Bronze Age in China. Researchers traced silk usage during sacrificial ceremonies by the Bronze Age civilization in the Yangtze River basin, published in Nature Scientific Reports.
The group used modern immunoaffinity column (IAC) enrichment, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and proteomics among other methods to validate the presence of silk fibroin a protein that makes silk different from many other materials. These early medieval incinerated silk fibers remained on the surfaces of artifacts thus serving as mementos of the early culture of silk growing.
Radiocarbon dating sets the years of the creation of the artifacts within 3148 while the most ancient traces of silk among the artifacts seem to have been discovered for the first time. Bronze Age civilization in China’s Yangtze River Basin.
Using state-of-the-art techniques such as immunoaffinity column (IAC) enrichment, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and proteomics, the team confirmed the presence of silk fibroin the key protein that gives silk its unique structure. These ancient silk fibers were incinerated and preserved on the surfaces of artifacts. Thus, creating a microscopic legacy of early sericulture.
Radiocarbon dating placed these artifacts between 3,148 and 2,966 years ago, making them some of the oldest silk traces ever found.
Rituals, Myths, and the Silk Road Connection
For the ancient Shu civilization, silk was not merely a splendid cloth material but rather a means to establish links with the divine. According to the research scholars, the silk that has been excavated from Sanxingdui was used during ritual practices to reach out to the Gods. One of the items, a silk fabric stretched over a frame, corresponds with reports from history books suggesting that Emperor Yao arranged for a divine transfer of the throne to Emperor Shun via a message sent by a turtle.
The Shu civilization, famous for its silk production, which involves the rearing of silkworms, was under the impression that nothing was smoother and more delicate than silk, and silk possessed some ethereal quality. This idea finds its expression in the ancient Confucian work Book of Rites (Liji) which says that covering the limbs with silk encouraged the spirits to ascend to heaven and Indeed provided the spirits with cocooned disguises that overcame the barriers of life and death.
Within the core of its woven threads silk embodied a set of beliefs and fables.
Silk was more than just a fabric; it was a material carrier of faith and mythology.
The Road to Civilization: Sanxingdui and the Southwest Silk Road
Silk appeared at Sanxingdui and therefore, it can be said that it is the first evidence of the early Southwestern silk route. The southern route is less known than the more famous Silk Road but certainly was of importance for the cultural, commercial, and scientific exchanges within China.
These findings demonstrate that in ancient Shu bers of 3,000 years ago, people had already mastered silk weaving and usage in their ceremonies. It connects the economic aspect of silk growing with the regional religion, elucidating that silk was, on the one hand, a product, and, on the other hand, a very special thing.
This also poses a problem for historians as to where silk-making started. More often than not, it is said that silk production started around the Yangtze River but looking at the weaving techniques and the availability of silks in Shu states, it seems that other regions were also important in the making of this fine art.
Cutting-Edge Techniques Reveal Ancient Secrets
Given that silk fibers typically degrade over time, finding remnants in archaeological contexts has always been challenging. The Sanxingdui research team overcame this hurdle by applying innovative methods to detect and analyze silk fibers.
Their approach involved enhancing silk residues with specialized substances, making the microscopic fibers easier to detect. The use of SEM imaging revealed the classic smooth, triangular structure of silk fibers, while proteomic analysis identified the silk as mulberry silk (Bombyx mori) the same silk that would later become the backbone of China’s silk industry.
This discovery opens doors for identifying other organic materials, such as fur or plant fibers, which have remained invisible in the archaeological record.
A Divine Connector: The Shu People’s Legacy
So, why did the Shu people of Sanxingdui value silk so highly in their rituals? Dr. Hu Xia of the Sichuan Research Institute offers a clue: “The silk remnants on jade and bronze artifacts were likely employed in religious ceremonies, reflecting the Shu people’s belief system and their use of silk as a divine connector.”
In essence, these ancient threads served a purpose far greater than fashion or trade. They were symbolic bridges between the earthly and the divine.
Threads of the Past, Lessons for the Future
The discovery of silk at Sanxingdui offers a powerful reminder of how deeply interwoven culture, technology, and spirituality were in ancient civilizations. It highlights the ingenuity of early sericulture, the mystical significance of silk, and the Shu people’s desire to connect with the divine.
This historic find enriches our understanding of the origins of silk and the rituals that shaped early Chinese society. As archaeologists continue to uncover more secrets at Sanxingdui, we can only imagine what other threads of history are waiting to be revealed.
