The gold mask uncovered from the Sanxingdui site is 28cm in height.
THE recently discovered gold mask from the Sanxingdui archaeological site – sporting similar exotic features to those of previously unearthed bronze face masks – has drawn enormous interest.
Located in south-west China’s Sichuan province, the Sanxingdui Ruins site dates back over 3,200 years. More than 1,000 artefacts were recovered in an excavation in 1986, including bronzeware with exotic markings, face masks with protruding pupils and an exquisite 3.95m-divine tree believed to have been worshipped as the ladder to heaven.
Explore the discoveries at Sanxingdui Ruins in this month’s China Watch, which also takes you to Nanjing Hongshan Forest Zoo in the Jiangsu province, highlighting the works of its innovative zookeeper Shen Zhijun.