Discovering a Lost Zhou Dynasty Kingdom

In 1945, near what is now Beijing’s Fangshan District, archaeologists stumbled upon traces of an ancient civilization that would rewrite our understanding of early Chinese history. The Liulihe site, spanning 5.25 square kilometers across six modern villages, revealed itself as nothing less than the capital of the Yan state – one of the most important vassal kingdoms established during the Western Zhou Dynasty (1046-771 BCE).

This sprawling archaeological treasure, located just 2.5 kilometers northeast of present-day Liulihe Town, contains both a walled city and extensive burial grounds. The rectangular city walls, originally about 829 meters long on the north side, showcase unique construction methods for their time. Unlike typical Shang-Zhou period walls built with foundation trenches, Liulihe’s walls were constructed on leveled ground using layered rammed earth techniques, with distinct inner and outer supporting walls.

The Archaeological Breakthroughs

Systematic excavations began in 1962 with small-scale test digs by Beijing’s cultural relics team. The real breakthroughs came between 1973-1977 when a joint archaeological team uncovered 61 tombs and 5 chariot pits. But the most spectacular discovery occurred in 1986 with the unearthing of tomb M1193 – the final resting place of a Yan ruler.

This monumental tomb, measuring 7.68 meters long and over 5 meters wide, featured four unusual narrow ramps at each corner – possibly used for lowering the coffin. Though looted in antiquity, it yielded two priceless bronze vessels: the Ke Lei (wine container) and Ke He (water pitcher). Their inscriptions proved revolutionary, recording how the Zhou king enfeoffed a noble named Ke as the first Marquis of Yan, confirming the site’s identity as the Yan capital mentioned in historical texts.

A Window into Zhou Dynasty Aristocracy

The Liulihe cemetery reveals stark social stratification through its burial practices. The largest tombs like M202 (with dual passageways spanning nearly 15 meters) clearly belonged to Yan rulers, while medium tombs (about 3.5m long) housed nobles, and small tombs (around 2.5m) contained commoners.

Aristocratic burials feature elaborate rituals:
– Chariots buried whole or dismantled (one pit contained 42 horses)
– Human sacrifices (skulls placed in tomb passages)
– “Destruction burial” of weapons (spears bent, blades broken)
– Lavish lacquerware decorated with gold foil and turquoise
– Bronze ritual vessels inscribed with Yan rulers’ names

The 1970s excavations uncovered particularly rich medium tombs like M251 and M253, yielding exquisite bronzes including the famous Bo Ju Li (ritual food vessel) and Jin Ding (a massive ceremonial cauldron) bearing inscriptions about Yan rulers rewarding their vassals.

Cultural Crossroads of Early China

Liulihe presents a fascinating cultural mosaic. The cemetery divides clearly into two sections by the Beijing-Guangzhou railway:

West Section (I Area):
– Shang dynasty-style practices: sacrificial dogs in waist pits, human sacrifices
– Burial goods dominated by li (tripod), gui (food container), and jar combinations
– Bronze inscriptions with Shang clan symbols

East Section (II Area):
– Zhou-style burials: no human sacrifices, rare dog sacrifices
– Simpler li and jar pottery combinations
– Likely the Yan rulers’ burial ground

This dichotomy suggests the western area housed Shang dynasty survivors, while the eastern section contained Zhou conquerors – a microcosm of the cultural integration occurring across early Zhou territory.

The Science of Dating a Civilization

Through meticulous stratigraphy and radiocarbon dating, archaeologists have established Liulihe’s timeline:

Phase I (1040-950 BCE):
– Early Western Zhou (Cheng-Kang reigns)
– Contains the richest cultural layers

Phase II (960-850 BCE):
– Middle Western Zhou (Mu-Yi reigns)
– Declining activity

Phase III (852-750 BCE):
– Late Western Zhou (Li-Xuan reigns)
– Sparse remains, likely abandoned

The “Chengzhou” inscribed oracle bone from pit H108 (among the earliest Zhou artifacts at the site) provided crucial dating evidence, aligning with historical records of Yan’s establishment after the Zhou conquest of Shang.

Legacy of China’s Northern Frontier

Liulihe’s significance extends far beyond its artifacts:

1. Historical Verification: Confirms ancient texts about the Yan state’s founding, with Ke as its first ruler under Zhou authority.

2. Cultural Synthesis: Demonstrates how Zhou, Shang, and local cultures merged in China’s northern frontier.

3. Technological Showcase: Reveals advanced bronze-casting, lacquerware production, and chariot-making technologies.

4. Political Insight: Illustrates Zhou dynasty’s “fengjian” system of decentralized rule through regional lords.

Today, as Beijing expands rapidly southward, the Liulihe site faces new preservation challenges. Ongoing research continues to reveal how this ancient capital shaped early Chinese civilization, while modern museums showcase its treasures – from the exquisite Bo Ju Li to the politically charged Ke vessels – bringing the Yan kingdom’s legacy to new generations.

The discoveries at Liulihe have fundamentally altered our understanding of China’s Bronze Age, proving that the Zhou dynasty’s reach extended further north than previously believed, and that its cultural influence blended diverse traditions into what would become classical Chinese civilization.