On March 12th, the preliminary evaluation for the 2025 National Top Ten Archaeological Discoveries was launched. The candidate projects were all voluntarily submitted by various excavation units and, after review by the National Cultural Heritage Administration, 30 projects were ultimately selected for consideration. Among them is the Shenduntou site in Fanchang, Anhui Province. The preliminary evaluation will determine 20 projects through voting to advance to the final round.

The 30 candidates for the preliminary evaluation include the Paleolithic site group in the eastern Changbai Mountains of Jilin, the Xinmiaozhuang site in Yangyuan, Hebei, the Chuandong site in Puding, Guizhou, the Jidao Paleolithic site group in Fusui, Guangxi, the Shiren Cave site in Hailin, Heilongjiang, the Southwest site of Daming Lake in Jinan, Shandong, and the Epang Palace Site in Xi'an, Shaanxi. The Shenduntou site in Fanchang, Anhui, is the only candidate from Anhui Province participating in the preliminary evaluation. The principles for the preliminary evaluation include: new archaeological discoveries that offer breakthroughs or fill gaps, demonstrating significant value; in-depth research related to the discoveries that strongly advances academic progress; timely protection during the work process, ensuring the discoveries are well-preserved; and effective interpretation and dissemination of the discoveries, resulting in strong social impact.

The Shenduntou site in Fanchang, Anhui, is located in Pingpu Town, Fanchang District, Wuhu City, covering an area of approximately 80,000 square meters. During the archaeological excavations in 2024 and 2025, a total of 186 features were discovered, and 923 artifacts were unearthed. Preliminary research indicates that the Shenduntou site is a typical bronze casting site from the Zhou Dynasty. It is a significant discovery in the metallurgical archaeology of the Shang and Zhou dynasties in the lower Yangtze River region in recent years. This site provides valuable material evidence for exploring the bronze smelting and casting landscape of the Ningzhen region in southern Anhui during the Shang and Zhou dynasties. It also offers critical insights for studying important academic issues such as the living environment of ancient populations, subsistence economy, settlement patterns, and even the civilizational process and state formation in the lower Yangtze River region.

Source: Anhui Business News