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Dragon Made from a 5,000-Year-Old Clamshell. Extraordinary Discovery in China
A figurine of a dragon made from a clamshell has been discovered in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region of China, and it may date back up to 5,000 years. It was crafted from clamshells and represents one of the oldest depictions of this mythical creature in China.
The figurine was found in the city of Chifeng and measures about 20 cm in length. It was made from several clamshell pieces that form its body, tail, and head. The dragon was found alongside two broken ceramic vessels typical of the Hongshan culture.
“This discovery is important because it fills a gap in the knowledge of archaeologists regarding the symbolism of the dragon in the early Hongshan culture,” said Song Jinshan, the head of the Inner Mongolia Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology, as quoted by the Global Times.
Dragon Figurines in China
Archaeologists are familiar with other dragon figurines made by representatives of this culture. However, they differ significantly. Most notably…