Page 14 - Deydier Early Chinese Bronzes
P. 14
The Palaces
The scientific excavations carried out at the Erlitou site 二里頭遺址
uncovered rectangular rammed earth platforms facing north to south.
These seem to have been the foundations of great buildings or palaces
constructed entirely of wood, as was common in much of antiquity.
Palace no. 4
In 1960, the ruins of the first palace were discovered. Almost square and
measuring 100 metres across by 108 metres long, the building’s
foundations are between 1 and 2 metres deep. Made up of earthern layers
each 4.5 cm in thickness, these foundations rise almost 80 cm above the
surrounding soil. Other remnants suggest that this palace was once
surrounded by an earthern wall about 45 to 60 cm high. Parallel to the
edge of the platform, archaeologists discovered a series of holes, most
probably dug for the wooden pillars of what once must have been a long
covered corridor whose large entrance door faced south.
Palace no. 4
Right page: palaces foundations 2 to 5
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