Excavation of Tomb M54 at Huayuanzhuang in Anyang, Henan

Excavation of Tomb M54 at Huayuanzhuang in Anyang, Henan Anyang Work Station, Institute of Archaeology, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences Keywords: Henan Anyang Shang tomb Situated to the northwest of the modern city of Anyang 安阳, Huayuanzhuang 花园庄 is an important locus of Yinxu 殷墟, the ruins of the last Shang capital. Tomb M54, located east of the Huayuanzhuang Village, was excavated from the 17th of December 2000 to the 16th of February 2001 as a salvage excavation due to a contemporary construction project. This tomb is relatively large in size, well preserved, and richly furnished; however, most recovered bronzes are broken, and their repairs require additional time. I. Tomb Location and Stratigraphy To the east of the Huayuanzhuang Village, M54 lies about 100 m west of the Huan River 洹河, 50 m south of the defensive ditch of the Yinxu s palace-temple complex, 50 m northwest of the oracle bone pit H3 excavated in 1991, 390 m south of the large-scale rectangle-shaped compound with an open end, and approximately 500 m southeast of Fuhao s 妇好 tomb (Fig. 1). The stratigraphy above the opening of M54 is composed of three layers: (1) plowed zone, 0.22 0.32 m in thickness; (2) the Tang-Song level, 0.22 0.32 m thick, yielding porcelain and pottery fragments; and (3) the Shang level, 0.3 0.4 m in thickness, containing pottery fragments of li-tripods, gui-tureens, pen-basins, etc., dating to Phase IV of the Yinxu period. Beneath the third level is the pounded platform foundation of building F1 that is rectangular in shape and partially cut by an ash pit of the Shang period. Building F1 contains a small amount of pottery shards dating to late Phase II of the Yinxu period, and it directly overlies the opening of tomb M54. II. Tomb Structure Tomb M54 is a rectangular, vertical pit aligned north to south. The tomb opening, 1.1 m below modern ground, is smaller than the bottom. It measures 5.04 m long and Volume 5 3.23 3.3 m wide at the opening, 6.03 m long and 4.15 4.4 m wide at the bottom, and 7.3 m deep. The tomb infill is composed of reddish brown earth with yellowish white mottles (wuhuatu 五花土 ). There is a second-ledge platform (ercengtai 二层台 ) made of pounded nonsterile earth, measuring 0.8 m as an average width, 1.87 m high in the south, and 1.65 m high in the north. Slightly east of the bottom s center is a rectangular waist pit (yaokeng 腰坑 ) that measures 1.08 by 0.62 m and 0.7 0. 85 m deep. The tomb is furnished with a wooden chamber and a coffin, which are visible from the traces and imprints of decayed wood fragments. The wooden chamber is 3.82 m in length, 2.20 m in width, and 1.65 1.87 m in height. The chamber lid is composed of 21 boards oriented eastwest, each of which measures 0.16 0.26 m in width, and about 0.05 m in thickness. Sideboards of the chamber are joined together at four corners using dovetails consisting of interlocking tenons and mortises. The chamber lid is coated mainly with black lacquer, along with some red and yellow lacquer. The bottom side of the chamber consists of 11 north-south aligned boards, which is supported by an east-west oriented wooden tie at both ends. The wooden coffin sits slightly east of the center within the chamber; it measures 2.45 m long, 0.7 m wide in the south, 0.85 m wide in the north, and its height remains uncertain. The coffin lid is coated with red lacquer and delicately decorated with the dominant pattern of kui-dragons and fishes. The outer edge of the coffin lid is adorned with gold foil. Under the coffin is a level of cinnabar. The skeleton, identified as a male, faces north, and is prone with extended limbs and both hands beneath the abdomen. The skeleton has been largely decayed and became pulverized; and only the skull, limbs, and pelvis bones are partially preserved. 59

N River Huan Sipanmo palace area Fuhao s tomb Anyang station Xiaotun Xiaozhuang M54 oracle bone pit Wangyukou defensive trench 0 300 m Fig. 1 Illustration of location of Tomb M54 The tomb contains fifteen sacrificial human victims. Three of them are found underneath the east ercengtai, one underneath the west ercengtai, and two between outer chamber and inner coffin for each side in the east, west, and south. In addition, two skulls are unearthed from the tomb infill, and three skulls are found inside the ercengtai. There are also fifteen sacrificial dogs, nine of them from the tomb infill, five inside the ercengtai, and one in the waist pit. III. Grave Goods The tomb M54 is supplied with lavish grave goods, 60 consisting of bronzes, jades, stones, bones, shells, bamboo, ivories, gold foil, cowries, etc. The inventory includes 570 pieces in total, not counting bronze paohemispheres and arrowheads. Bronze ritual vessels are placed at both the south and north ends within the chamber; while bronze weapons are mostly laid on both the east and west sides within the chamber. Most jades are found inside the coffin. Among them are the bi-discs and qi-notched axes placed on both sides of the upper body, as well as four dragon-shaped ornaments laid on the back of the skeleton almost along a straight line. Jade beads are mostly arrayed in the shape of an arc on the Chinese Archaeology

thorat and abdomen. Pottery helmet-shaped jiangjunkui and lei-vessels are found at the north end inside the coffin, and other pottery vessels are unearthed from the tomb infill and the ercengtai earth. Cowries are placed underneath the dead (Figs. 2 and 3). 1. Pottery There are twenty-one pottery vessels, including types of li-tripod, gui-tureen, lei-vessel, dou-stemmed plate, helmet-shaped vessel (jiangjunhui), gu-goblet, jue-cup, etc. Li-tripod. One (M54:8). The li-tripod is made of sandtempered gray clay. It is characterized by a flared mouth, a constricted neck, and low crotch with pointed feet. The whole vessel is decorated with cord marks. The li is 18.6 cm tall with the mouth 18.1 cm in diameter (Fig. 4:1). Gui-tureen. One (M54:42). The gui-tureen is of gray clay. It has a flared mouth with a rounded lip. The rim is slightly concave; one line encircles the area below the mouth. The gui is characterized by a slightly constricting lower belly, a relatively high ring foot, and bands of lines on the belly. The gui is 16.5 cm tall with the mouth measuring 25.3 cm in diameter and the ring foot 13.9 cm in diameter (Fig. 4:6). Dou-stemmed plate. One. The dou-plate is made of gray clay. It is characterized by a constricted mouth, a deep bowl, a short ring foot, and one line around the upper part of the belly. The dou is 9.8 cm tall with the mouth 14.7 cm in diameter (Fig. 4:4). Lei-vessels. Fifteen. The lei-vessels with lids are made of gray clay. They are characterized by a straight mouth, a wide shoulder, an obliquely convex belly, a flat base, and double handles on the shoulder. The neck is encircled with one line and the belly is incised with a triangular pattern surrounded by one line on the top and another on the bottom. The lid is cap-shaped with a mushroom-shaped button, and decorated with one line. The lei (M54:164) measures 21.8 cm in height with the mouth 8.4 cm in diameter (Fig. 4:2). Jiangjunkui-helmet-shaped vessel. One (M54:238). This helmet-shaped vessel is made of sand-tempered red clay. It has a flared mouth and an oblique belly, the lower part of which is constricted. The base is shaped in a slender tube with a relatively thick wall. The area below the mouth is decorated with line, the belly with trellis patterns, and the lower belly and base with fine cordmarks. Soot is visible on the lower belly and base. The helmet-shaped vessel is 29.2 cm tall with the mouth 29 cm in diameter (Fig. 4:5). Jue-cup. One (M54:25). The jue-cup is made of gray Volume 5 clay; its legs are broken. It is characterized by a flared mouth with a short spout, a constricted neck, a slight drum-shaped belly, a handle, and a foot base with pointed feet. Two lines encircle the waist area. The jue-cup measures 14.8 cm in height with the mouth 9.4 cm in diameter (Fig. 4:3). Gu-goblet. One (M54:22). The gu-goblet is of gray clay, and only a fragment of its lower belly is found. 2. Bronzes There are two hundreds of bronze objects, including ritual vessels, musical instruments, weapons, implements, horse-chariot objects, etc. 1) Ritual vessels and musical instruments There are forty three pieces in this category, including the following types: round ding, square ding, yan, gui, square zun, cow-shaped zun, square jia, square yi, lei, yu, guan, gu, jue, shao-ladle, dou-funnel, nao-bell, etc. Round ding. Two. The round ding (M54:240) has straight and upright handles, an everted rim, a slightly constricted mouth, a round belly, a hemispherical base, and hollow post feet. The band below the mouth is decorated by a taotie design made up of two kui-dragons with a flange nose; the upper foot is decorated with a taotie motif. It has flanges on the upper belly and the upper part of the foot. Ya Chang 亚长 is inscribed on the inside of the vessel. The round ding is 36.5 cm in diameter and 48. 6 cm in height; it weighs 16.35 kg (Fig. 5). Crotched round ding. Four. The ding (M54:166) is characterized by straight and upright handles, everted rim, round belly, and crotched post feet. The band below the mouth is decorated with a cicada design against the cloud-thunder background; the belly with three groups of taotie (with a flange nose) alternating with single kuidragon motifs. Ya Chang 亚长 is inscribed on the inside of the vessel. Its mouth is 41.2 cm in diameter, and 79.5 cm tall. It weighs 2 kg (Fig. 6). Yan. One. M54:154 is a round yan with joint body characterized by straight and upright handles, everted rim, deep belly, constricted waist (neck), and crotched post feet. The upper belly is decorated with a band of three groups of simplified taotie motifs. The upper part of the foot is also decorated with a taotie design. The inside of the vessel is inscribed with Ya Chang 亚长. The yan is 79.5 cm tall with the mouth 41.2 cm in diameter; it weighs 37.4 kg (Fig. 7). Square zun. One. M54:84 has a squared and flared mouth, constricted neck, inclined shoulder, inclined belly, flat base, and tall and raised ring feet. The decoration around the neck is a banana leaf design made up of kui- 61

N 0 1 m Fig. 2 Illustration of burial objects of Tomb M54 62 Chinese Archaeology

Fig. 3 Tomb M54 (photo from east to west) 1 3 5 4 2 0 10 cm 6 Fig. 4 Ceramic objects of Tomb M54 1. li-tripod (M54:8) 2. lei-vessel (M54:164) 3. jue-tripod (M54:25) 4. dou-stemmed plate (M54:19) 5. helmet-shaped vessel (M54: 238) 6. gui-tureen (M54:42) Volume 5 63

Fig. 5 Bronze ding-tripod (M54:240) Fig. 6 Bronze ding-tripod (M54:166) Fig. 7 Bronze yan-steamer (M54:154) 64 Fig. 8 Bronze zun-vessel (M54:84) Chinese Archaeology

dragons. Four mythical animals are cast on the four corners of the shoulder. The belly area is decorated with cicada, kui-dragon, and taotie motifs. The middle of each side of the vessel is pieced with a cross-shaped opening. Each foot is also decorated with taotie and kui-dragon motifs. The square zun is 51.9 cm tall and its mouth is 33.9 36.6 cm wide. It weighs 27.3 kg (Fig. 8). Square jia. One. M54:43 has a squared and flared mouth. On the rim are four pyramidal posts. It is also characterized by a deep and straight belly, flat base, four triangular feet, and an animal head handle. Flanges run along four corners of the vessel body as well as the outer edges of the four feet. The decor consists of a triangular design made up of kui-dragons on the area below the mouth, a kui-dragon design on the neck, a taotie design on the belly, and a kui-dragon design on the foot. Ya Chang 亚长 is inscribed inside of the vessel. The vessel s mouth measures 26.5 28.2 cm wide, and 66.6 cm tall. It weighs 22.15 kg (Fig. 9). Gu. Nine. Nine gu-goblets are characterized by a trumpet-shaped mouth, slender neck and belly, flat base, and raised ring foot; they can be classified into two varieties. The first variety includes four pieces that are relatively tall. It has four flanges aligning the neck, belly, and foot. The upper part of the foot is pieced with a crossshaped hole. The vessel is decorated with a banana leaf design made up of taotie motifs on the neck below that is a cicada design, a taotie design with a flange nose on the belly, and taotie and cicada motifs on the foot. Gu (M54:120) has an inscription of Ya Chang 亚长 on the inner face of its ring foot; it is 35.4 cm tall with the mouth 19.7 cm in diameter (Fig. 10). The second variety consists of five gu-goblets that are relatively short with four flanges running the belly and foot only. The neck is decorated with a banana leaf design composed of taotie motifs on the top and a bird design on the bottom. The decoration is a taotie motif on the belly, a cicada motif on the upper foot, and a taotie on the lower foot. Gu (M54:192) measures 28.8 cm tall and its mouth is 16.8 cm in diameter (Fig. 11). Jue. Nine. Nine jue-cups are classified into two varieties. The first variety has a narrow spout, pointed tail, umbrella-shaped posts on the rim, flat bottom, a semicircular animal-shaped handle, and relatively high triangular feet. Flanges align the spout, tail, and belly. The area below the mouth, spout, and tail is ornamented with a banana leaf design composed of cicada motifs, and the Volume 5 Fig. 9 Bronze jia-vessel (M54:43) belly with a taotie design. The caps of the umbrellashaped posts are decorated with triangular cicada motifs. Jue (M54:138) has Chang 长 inscribed on the outer face of the belly underneath the handle. The vessel is 29. 6 cm tall, and its foot is 14.1 cm tall (Fig. 12). The second variety consists of five pieces that are characterized by mushroom-shaped posts on the rim, deep belly, egg-shaped bottom, and semi-circular handle. The post caps are decorated with round whorls, the area below the mouth, spout, and tail with a banana design made up of cicada motifs, and the belly with a taotie design. Jue (M54:184) is inscribed with Chang 长 on the outer side of the belly underneath the handle. The vessel is 21.1 cm tall, and its foot is 8.6 cm tall (Fig. 13). Nao-bells. One set of three pieces. Ordered by size, the three graduated nao-bells are similar in shape and inscription. The nao-bell has a flat bucket shape (zheng) with a round tubular handle (yong). The mouth is wider than the upper edge, the middle of which is connected with the hollow handle. The two faces of the bell are decorated with taotie motifs. The inner side of the bell is inscribed with Ya Chang 亚长. The mouth is 14.2 cm in diameter for M54:119, 11.8 cm for M54:108, and 9.6 cm for M54:199. 2) Weapons There are about 170 pieces of weapons, including yue- 65

Fig. 10 Bronze gu-goblet (M54:120) Fig. 11 Bronze gu-goblet (M54:192) Fig. 12 Bronze jue-cup (M54:138) 66 Fig. 13 Bronze jue-cup (M54:184) Chinese Archaeology

1 3 4 2 5 Fig. 14 Bronze objects 1. style III yue-axe (M54:92) 2. hand-shaped object (M54:392) 3. style I yue-axe (M54:86) 4. chopper (M54:87) 5. bow-shaped object (M54:286) (scales: 1, 2. c.2/5; the rest c.1/5) large flat axes, point-curved choppers, ge-dagger axes, mao-spear points, arrow points, etc. Yue-large flat axe. Seven. They are axe-shaped, with a flat shoulder and curved blade. Three varieties can be distinguished. The first variety includes only one specimen (M54: 86). Oblong in shape, it has a rectangular tang slightly off Volume 5 the center. There is a round aperture on the low part of the tang, and a slit on each side of the shoulder. Both sides of the butt (the upper portion of the tang) are decorated with symmetrical double kui-dragons, and the band below the shoulder with double-coiled dragons surrounded by an animal motif on each end. The middle portion of the axe is ornamented with a large dragon mouth facing 67

Fig. 15 Bronze yue-axe (M54:86) downward, inside of which is a kui-dragon motif. On each side of the dragon mouth is a kui-dragon inside of which is a small dragon motif. Ya Chang 亚长 is inscribed in the middle of the butt. The yue-axe is 40.5 cm long with the blade s edge measuring 29.8 cm wide; it weighs 5.95 kg (Figs. 14:3; 15). The second variety also has only one specimen. The blade s edge is slightly broken. Yue (M54:89) is shaped in the form of a short axe with a nearly square tang right in the middle. A slit is cast on the lower tang; two grooves border the butt edge. Near each end of the shoulder is a slit, and in the middle a raised ridge. In the center of the blade is a large round aperture. The yue-axe measures 20.5 cm in length with the broken blade s edge 18.7 cm wide; it weighs 0.75 kg. Five other yue-large flat axes comprise the third variety. Yue (M54:92) has a rectangular tang slightly off the center, and a small round aperture in the lower part of the shaft. The butt is ornamented with a taotie motif inlaid with pieces of turquoise and the upper part of the blade with a triangular design composed of cicada and nipple-shaped dot patterns. The yue-axe is 20.5 cm long; it weighs 0.67 kg (Fig. 14:1). Dao-chopper with curved point. Three. The dao- 68 chopper of this type has a long blade with pointed end bent backwards like a hook. The cutting edge of the blade is straight. The dao has a short handle and a thin upper ridge that is perforated with three slits. On the upper part of the blade is a wide band of decoration consisting of seven kui-dragons and cloud-and-thunder patterns. Ya Chang 亚长 is cast on the blade near the handle. Dao (M54:87) measures 44.4 cm in length (Fig. 14:4). Ge-dagger axes. Seventy One. They are classified into three varieties. Nine pieces comprise the first variety of ge-dagger axes; amongst them two sub-varieties can be identified. Seven specimens fall within the first sub-variety. Shaped in the form of an elongated triangle, they are thicker in the middle and thinner on the edge. Ge (M54:223) has a round aperture in the front part of the rectangular tang, a rounded butt spurred at the lower edge, and upper and lower lan-trunnions. Around the edge of the butt is a groove that might have been inlaid with turquoise. It measures 23.6 cm in length. The second sub-variety includes two ge-dagger axes that have a long hu (hu refers to the extended lower blade edge shaped liked the flap of muscle drooping from the neck of an ox) perforated with three slits. The rounded butt, spurred at its lower edge, is decorated with inlaid turquoise around its edge and has a round rise in the middle. The ge-dagger axe is 23.6 cm long. The second variety of ge-dagger axe includes 20 pieces that have a thin blade and curved tang. The blade is shaped as an elongated triangle with a median ridge and upper and lower lan-trunnions. The curved butt is decorated with a bird motif. Ge (M54:47) measures 28.5 cm long; a trace of a wooden shaft is visible on the tang near the lan-trunnions. A total of 42 pieces of ge-dagger axes are grouped into the third variety. They are characterized by a socketed tang. Ge (M54:249) has a blade shaped in the form of an elongated triangle with a median ridge, a rectangular tang with an ovoid socket and several linear ridges on the butt. Fragments of a wooden shaft cling to the inside of the socket. A wooden wedge is inserted into the upper end of the remaining shaft; cord traces are found on the lower end of the shaft. The ge is 25.2 cm long. Mao-spear points. Seventy-Six. Two varieties are identified. The first variety includes 55 pieces characterized by a triangular blade. Mao (M54:113) has a rise in the middle of the blade. On the end of the blade is a nearly tubular socket with double semi-circular loops between which is a cast Chinese Archaeology

inscription Ya Chang 亚长. Inside the socket are fragments of a wooden shaft. The mao measures 23.7 cm long. There are 21 pieces of mao-spear points belonging to the second variety that is characterized by a nearly kidney-shaped blade and median ridge. Mao (M54:37) has double apertures at the end of the blade, and an ovoid socket. Between double apertures is an inscription Ya Chang 亚长. It is 27.9 cm long. 3) Others There are about 140 other class of objects made of bronze, including tools (adzes, chisels, spades, squared awls, etc.), chariot-horse implements (bow-shaped objects, whip-handles, pao-hemispheres, etc.), and miscellaneous objects (hand-shaped object, bells, animalheads, etc.). Bow-shaped objects. Six. M54:286 is relatively long and moderately bent in the middle with two arc-shaped arms whose ends are shaped in the form of an ox s head. The object is completely decorated with pieces of turquoise; it measures 37.2 cm long (Fig. 14:5). Hand-shaped object. M54:392 is likely a right hand with five slightly stretching fingers. The hollow palm forms a socket that contains fragments of a wooden shaft. The back of the hand is decorated with an animal motif. The broken hand is 13.2 cm long, and weighs 0.1 kg (Fig. 15:2). 3. Jades Some two hundred pieces of jade are found including ritual objects, weapons, tools, ornaments, etc. Among them are ornament beads that account for about three fourths of the jade inventory. Ritual objects consist of 9 pieces including gui-tablets, bi-discs, cong-tubes, huan-rings, and jue-slit rings. Weapons number 29, including qi-notched axes, yuelarge flat axes, dao-choppers, ge-dagger axes, maospear points, ge-dagger axes with jade blade and bronze tang, mao-spear points with jade blades and bronze sockets, and arrow points (Figs. 16 19). Fig. 16 Jade chopper (M54:382) Fig. 17 Jade ge-dagger axe (M54:319) Fig. 18 Jade qi-notched axe (M54:359) Volume 5 Fig. 19 Jade spear point (M54:463) 69

Ornaments amount to some 160 pieces of dragons, gooses, parrots, beads, etc. IV. Conclusions Our ceramic analysis suggests that Tomb M54 may be dated to the late Phase II of the Yinxu period. The specimens dou (M54:019), lei (M54:164), and jue (M54: 025) are basically similar to type I dou (M410:3), type AI lei (M366:4) and type II jue (M410:1) from the west section Yinxu, respectively. The latter three specimens are typical of late Phase II of the Yinxu period. Tomb M54 belongs to the category of large rectangular, vertical pit graves at Yinxu; the size of the pit is close to that of Fuhao s tomb. M54 is furnished with fifteen sacrificial victims, fifteen sacrificial dogs, bronzes including several large vessels and nine sets of gu-goblets and jue-cups, and a large number of delicately carved jades (only second to the tomb of Fuhao), strongly suggesting that the occupant was an aristocrat. Seven pieces of bronze yue-large flat axes are found in M54, which is rare among the burial finds at Yinxu. One of them is as large as the large yue found at the tomb of Fuhao. Furthermore, there are many bronze weapons such as large dao-choppers with curved points, gedagger axes, mao-spear points etc., possibly indicating that the deceased was a military officer with a high rank. This is also manifested by the inscriptions, mostly Ya Chang 亚长, cast on bronzes. Ya 亚 is generally interpreted as a military title of the Shang period, while Chang 长 is also seen in oracle bone inscriptions. It may be inferred that the occupant of M54 might be a chief of the lineage called Chang 长. Tomb Changzikou 长子口 found at Taiqinggong 太清宫 in Luoyi 鹿邑 County, Henan 河南 Province, is a large grave dating to the end of the Shang and the beginning of the Zhou period; it yields bronze vessels mostly inscribed with Chang Zi Kou 长子口 of which the character Chang is basically identical to that cast on the M54 bronzes. We may speculate that the occupants of both M54 and Changzikou tombs might have come from the same lineage group. The Chang lineage group lasted from early Yinxu period through the beginning of the Western Zhou period and it was highly regarded by the Shang royal house. The occupant of M54 was likely an aristocrat with military power. References 1. Henan Sheng Wenwu Kaogu Yanjiusuo 河南省文物考古研究所, Zhoukou Shi Wenhuaju 周口市文化局 (2000). Luoyi Taiqinggong Changzikou Mu 鹿邑太清宫长子口墓 (The Changzikou s Tomb at Taiqinggong in Luyi). Zhengzhou: Zhongzhou Guji Chubanshe 中州古籍出版社. 2. Zhongguo Shehui Kexueyuan Kaogu Yanjiusuo Anyang Gongzuodui 中国社会科学院考古研究所安阳工作队 (1979). 1969 1977 nian Yinxu Xiqu Muzang Fajue Baogao 1969 1977 年殷墟西区墓葬发掘报告 (Excavation Report on the Burials in the West Section of Yinxu in 1969 1977). Kaogu Xuebao 考古学报 1979.1. Notes: The original report, published in Kaogu 考古 2004.1: 7 19 with 14 illustrations and 5 pages of plates, is written by Xu Guangde 徐广德 and He Yuling 何毓灵. The summary is prepared by Xu Guangde, English-translated by Zhichun Jing 荆志淳 and revised by Patricia Telford. 70 Chinese Archaeology