China's earliest Bronze Age meteoritic iron artifact unearthed at Sanxingdui sacrificial site

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In a study published in Archaeological Research in Asia, Dr. Haichao Li and a team of researchers analyzed the earliest Bronze Age meteoritic iron artifact from southwestern China, the largest found to date in the country. Recovered from the famous Sanxingdui site, it provides crucial insights into the region's metallurgical practices and fills a critical gap in the area's metallurgical record.

Sanxingdui and Pit No. 7

Sanxingdui is located in Guanghan, Sichuan Province in China, and was listed as one of "China's Ten Archaeological Findings" in 2021. The site dates to between 2800 and 600 BCE, falling squarely within the Shang Dynasty (1600–1046 BCE). The city was the largest Shang-period city site in southern China and exhibits advanced urban planning, including craft-production areas, palatial zones, and sacrificial pits.

Among the most extraordinary objects unearthed in these pits were bronze masks, trees, and figurines.

Artifact K7QW-TIE-1 was uncovered among various other artifacts from Pit No. 7. Represented by a 20.05 cm (~8 inch) long, 5.27–7.90 cm (~2–3 inch) wide axe-like tool or weapon, the fragile artifact is represented by three individual fragments.

Meteoritic artifact

Metallographic and scanning electron microscopy–energy dispersive spectroscopy (SEM-EDS) analysis revealed that the artifact was not significantly cold-worked and was made of iron in a period before iron smelting became significantly widespread in China.

Additionally, its high chemical homogeneity (nickel-iron) would have been extremely difficult to achieve with known smelting technology in the Late Shang Dynasty period, suggesting the artifact was of meteoritic origin, though the exact type of meteorite from which the artifact was forged remains unresolved.

Dr. Zishu Yang, co-author of the study, clarifies, "While the SEM-EDS results provide preliminary insights, they are insufficient to definitively classify the specific type of meteorite … the precise classification, therefore, remains unresolved.

"In the next stage of research, we plan to employ more advanced analytical techniques to further constrain its origin and evaluate possible correspondences with known meteorite falls in the region."

Many cultures used meteoritic iron; so far, only 13 meteoritic iron artifacts are known from China, mostly concentrated in the northern regions, including Henan, Hebei, and Beijing, though some southern examples have also been uncovered in Hubei and Sichuan.

The oldest of these artifacts is a knife, from Narensu cemetery in Xinjiang, dated to ~3000 BCE. Interestingly, the Xinjiang and K7QW-TIE-1 artifacts are the only two monometallic artifacts, with all other examples coming from the Central Plains, represented by meteoritic iron, which was used as inserts in bimetallic bronze–iron weapons and tools, often associated with high-status burials.

The context and composition of the Xinjiang and Sanxingdui meteoritic artifacts suggest a different type of metallurgical practice occurred in southwestern China compared to the Central Plains.

Interestingly, all known meteoritic artifacts are represented by tools or weapons, utilitarian objects, yet it is possible that the Sanxingdui artifact was generally more associated with sacred significance than with utilitarian functions.

Dr. Yang elaborates, "In the broader context of ancient China, we believe cultural and practical considerations likely coexisted. Early metal was scarce and imbued with sacred significance; after large-scale production, its use became increasingly pragmatic. Due to the extreme rarity of meteoritic iron artifacts, it remains difficult to determine which factor predominated nationwide.

"However, for the specific specimen examined here, we argue that its ritual significance likely outweighed its utilitarian value. This interpretation is supported by its discovery in the Sanxingdui sacrificial area, where the vast majority of associated finds are generally interpreted as objects used in ceremonial contexts."

Looking ahead

In addition to more detailed metallurgical analysis, which will provide more insights into the type of meteorite from which the Sanxingdui artifact was forged, future work will also focus on recontexualizing the artifact through ongoing excavations.

As Dr. Yang puts it, "In addition to refining the metallurgical identification of the meteorite, our future work will focus on recontextualizing the artifact within its archaeological context. As excavation and research at Sanxingdui Pit No. 7 continue to advance, we expect to obtain a more comprehensive understanding of this meteoritic iron object and its significance within the broader site context."

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Publication details

Haichao Li et al, The earliest meteoritic iron artefact of the Chinese Bronze Age discovered at Sanxingdui, Southwest China, Archaeological Research in Asia (2026). DOI: 10.1016/j.ara.2026.100692

Journal information: Archaeological Research in Asia,

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