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Unearthing China’s Pyramid-Age Palace
In the Chinese province of Henan, archaeologists have found a palace complex dating back over 4000 years. Scientists believe it originated from the time of the oldest dynasty.
Throughout China’s history, many dynasties have ruled the country. At least 11 have been scientifically and archaeologically confirmed, not counting short-lived usurpers and rulers of kingdoms during the fragmentation of the empire. However, there is still debate about which dynasty was the oldest. Many scholars consider Xia to be the first, which could have existed around 2070–1600 BCE.
The Oldest Chinese Dynasty
References to it appear in works such as the “Records of the Grand Historian” (one of the most important Chinese chronicles by Sima Qian) and the “Bamboo Annals.” It describes the period from the legendary Yellow Emperor (a legendary ruler and progenitor of China who was said to have ruled from 2697–2597 BCE) to 299 BCE.
However, the existence of Xia has not been conclusively confirmed by archaeological excavations. That’s why it’s referred to as a “semi-legendary” dynasty. Chinese chronicles indicate that the founder of the dynasty was the Great Yu, who received the throne from Shun, the…
