Human Sacrifices Found at Ancient China Complex

Animals Underfoot

Animals sacrificed during the Western Zhou period—such as the Luoyang specimens, pictured with a Chinese archaeologist—included horses, dogs, pigs, and other types of farm animals.

Large, elaborate bronze vessels were often used during the sacrifice ceremonies to "offer meat, grain, ale, and other types of alcohol to ancestors," Sena said.

During the Western Zhou period, ancestor worship may have been practiced only by members of the aristocracy. The practice likely spread to other segments of society much later, Sena said.

"That's another reason why this period is very important," Sena said. "Even if [ancestor worship] began as purely aristocratic, the ideology behind it really becomes woven into Chinese civilization."

Published June 15, 2010