New research on a bronze artifact from China's renowned Sanxingdui Ruins in southwest China’s Sichuan Province shows that the ancient Shu civilization was deeply connected to other regional cultures in ancient China, providing the latest evidence of the unity in diversity of Chinese culture.

The Sichuan Provincial Cultural Relics and Archaeology Research Institute released its research findings on Friday, focusing on a bronze kneeling figurine with a Zun vessel unearthed from the No. 3 pit at Sanxingdui Ruins.

The monumental bronze artifact, composed of multiple separately cast components, features a complex and unique design that showcases the Sanxingdui people's superb casting skills.

"Based on our analysis, the bronze vessel was not originally cast with the intention of being combined with the human figure. It was only at the assembly stage that this set of combinations took place. Therefore, by synthesizing lead isotope analysis with the crafting techniques of the human figure, we concluded that it should be an item of non-native origin."

Metal composition analysis indicates that the components of the artifact were made of mineral materials sourced from different regions of China.

The bronze Zun vessel was likely produced in the Central Plains region, while the figurine and decorative parts were locally cast in Sanxingdui, said Guo Jianbo, an associate researcher at the institute.

The process of modification and combination, Guo explained, endowed the artifact with new cultural connotations, demonstrating how different regional cultures converged and contributed to the unity in diversity of Chinese civilization.

"There is a major difference in casting techniques between the Sanxingdui bronzes and those of the Central Plains. The separate casting method was widely used in the casting of Sanxingdui bronzes. But in the Central Plains, if you look at the Houmuwu Ding, for instance, it was cast as a single piece; that is what we call integral casting," Guo said.

The Sanxingdui Ruins are located in the city of Guanghan, about 40 km northeast of Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan. It is believed to be remnants of the Shu Kingdom dating back some 3,000 to 4,500 years and has been called one of the world's greatest archaeological finds of the 20th century. Two sacrificial pits were discovered in 1986, while another six were found in 2021. The core area of this site covers 3.6 square kilometers.

The ruins are renowned for their large and medium-sized bronze artifacts, many of which feature striking and elaborate designs.