Download Crossroads Final Abstract 1

Matthew Walker
Final Abstract
COR 330-02
11/25/14
The artifact I had chosen for my final project was the discovered village of
Sanyangzhuang. This village had been discovered in 2003 and has helped to distinguish the
beginning of the silk road within China. The major portions of my paper revolve around the
villages description, artifacts found within the village and its connection to the silk road.
The village itself had been hidden below fifteen feet of silt from the yellow river about
two thousand years ago following the over flow of the yellow river. The village itself is located
in the plain of China, more specifically, Henan Province. Within the village there has been about
14 compounds located with one of them even surrounded by a moat. Each compound contained
toilets and stone wells and were made with special tile roofing. There is also plenty of perfectly
preserved fields surrounding the compounds.
Some of the artifacts found within the village are interesting. The roof tiles themselves
were imprinted with characters symbolizing “long life”. There was also grinding stones and
looms that were located within the compounds. Outside of the compounds, metal tools were
located in perfect condition as well as human footprints showing their movement heading out of
the village during the flood. There were also tracks from carts that were preserved from the flood
showing some form of transportation.
The major pieces of evidence that are seen to connect the village to the silk road are iron
coins and fossils of mulberry leaves all throughout the site area. These are two very crucial
artifacts found within this village. The reasoning behind this is due to the fact that the majority of
trade involved both silk as well as currency. The mulberry leaves were what fed the silk worn
and would allow for the transformation of silk worm to silk moth take place. The silk moth is the
very source in which silk had been extracted from in order to generate the product of silk. The
looms within the compounds were then most likely used to spin the silk for either the villagers
own use or for trade. The iron coins provided a form a currency in order for trade and the
purchasing of products to happen. I most certainly believe that these two artifacts located within
the village are the most import pieces of evidence showing the villages involvement with the silk
road. It is clear that the style of live for this village was very good and that there was an
abundance of product within the community; also going in and out of the community.
The importance of my paper comes from the information within. The village that I
discuss not only shows the beginning of the silk road but also new information that had been
gained that a shown the first known life on the plain of China. The village was one of the ends of
a melting pot trade path that had been used for many years, before and after. I also mention some
extra information within the paper that had to do with another dig that had been done within the
village in order to find out more information about the land. A twelve foot wide and forty three
foot deep whole had been dug which resulted in the finding of twelve thousand years of history.
Otherwise, not only did my paper discuss the importance of a village that caps off one of the
ends of the silk road, but I also included information in which almost creates more history
within. Not only does the find show the history of life two thousand years ago, but it also shows
the history of the yellow river and the landscape ten thousand years before that.
The life that those lived during the Han Dynasty in the village of Sanyangzhuang was
that of a dream for the time. Yes, it was not at a near crossroads of culture, not nearly as much of
a village more centrally located on the silk road, but it does show more of a village that was
never known of. The studies behind the silk road followed more of places well known, even such
as Rome. For this village, it is more of an underdog of sites. A site that still has a lot to offer
towards the knowledge of Chinese history. As much information as there is now about that area,
there is still plenty more to be discovered that will help give a better understanding of the chinese
culture back in the time but also will help to reveal other information about the silk road that may
not be uncovered just yet.