On the round burial pit of the Yin Period at Hougang, Anyang

Abstract

In the light of the unearthed objects and stratigraphic relations, it can be inferred that the round burial pit (HGH10) of the Yin period at Hougang, Anyang, was formed in the late Yin or at the turn from the Yin to the Zhou period. The dead buried in the pit were seriously maimed or even beheaded and their skeletons were in an extraordinary position and in disorder. However, they were offered large-sized bronze ritual vessels and a great number of other precious grave goods. This suggests that the Hougang burial pit was not a normal tomb or a sacrificial pit; it must have been a peculiar burial of persons in higher status. It is likely that the pit occupants belonged to the sizi 嗣子 mentioned in the inscription of the Shu Sizi ding-tripod, who were the officials stationed at the Lan 阑 or the State Guesthouse in the capital of the Yin Dynasty, in charge of guest reception and massage transmission. Perhaps they were killed in the Muye campaign and buried in this round pit.