Chinese archaeologists have unveiled a meticulously restored Tang Dynasty gold armor, marking a breakthrough in understanding cultural exchanges across ancient Asia. The artifact, reconstructed over four years from fragments unearthed in 2018 at Qinghai's Xuewei No. 1 Tomb, represents the only surviving ceremonial armor linked to the Tuyuhun royal family. Scientific analysis confirms its gilded bronze construction and connection to 8th-century gold-and-silver inlay techniques, with a preserved grape-holding lacquer plate offering new insights into Tang-era luxury trade.
At a January 14 press conference in Beijing, the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences also announced the operational launch of the China Animal Resources Specimen Bank. This repository now safeguards pivotal remains including 10,000-year-old domesticated dog specimens from Hebei's Nanzhuangtou site and early pig domestication evidence from Henan's Jiahu settlement. Researchers emphasize these discoveries collectively rewrite timelines for both material culture development and animal domestication in early Chinese civilization.
