LuisMa

Manzo,Luis June 11,2007 Period 2/3 Shang Burials Have you ever wondered what they found at Anyang? What they discovered? Well now you will find out! On 1928 in Anyang archeologists found 11 royal graves and thousands of other tombs. They discovered that those were part of human sacrifices and Shang burials.

They buried the king in a large pit shaped liked a long cross, dug facing north and south. They also buried the bodies of soldiers, servants, grooms, chariot drivers, and women. They also buried horses, oxeden, pigs, and deer. The Shang believe that those people can help the king in the after life. Along with the king they buried his goods that he will need in the next world. They also buried his closest treasures.

Human sacrifices were an important part of a funeral ritual. Most of the victims were prisoners of war. They were mostly beheaded. Their head’s were laid out in separate parts of the grave. That was evidence of the dead king’s might.

Before they filled the pit they added heaped bronze weapons, containers of food and ritual vessels. They arranged the servant and captives bodies. The funeral ceromony was led by the next king, which usually is the dead king’s younger brother not the son. When they fill; the pit they fill it up earth layer by layer. Then the slaves pounded the earth until it the solid mound soil covered the tomb. Then the burial chamber was roofed over.

In conclusion,in 1928 they found 11 royal graves and thousands of tombs.They were buried in a large pit shaped liked a long cross, dug facing north and south. Human sacrifices were important.