The Site of mining and smelting copper, from the Western Zhou (11th century-771BC) to the Han Dynasty (206BC-220AD)

Geographical Location: Daye County, Hubei Province

Period: About 9th century BC-1st century AD

Excavated from 1973 to 1985

Significance: It is of great significance to the study of copper mining and smelting in ancient China.

Introduction

The Tonglushan Mining(铜绿山矿Tónglǜ shānkuàng) and Smelting Site is situated by the Daye Lake in the southwest of the Huangshi Municipality. It is the ruins of a mining and smelting site during the Han and the Western Zhou dynasties, covering an area of about 8 square kilometers. The traces of ancient mines can still be seen in the site. Tonglushan Mining and Smelting Site was unearthed in 1973, and is so far the earliest, best-preserved, most-complete, technology-most-advanced and scale-largest copper mining and smelting relics. More than 1,000 pieces of production tools were unearthed in this place.

Some Hong Kong news media commented that it is another miracle following the discovery of the Terra-cotta Warriors, and can be compared with the Great Wall and the Egyptian Pyramids. In 1982, the relics were listed in the state’s historical and cultural heritage and relics protection catalog. In 1987, it was submitted by the State Council to the UNESCO for inclusion into the relics catalog and international heritage.