Page 38 - Deydier Early Chinese Bronzes

• Zhengzhou 鄭州 (Sample CET7 taken from the surrounding wall):
1620 B.C. ± 140 years.
• Erligang 二里崗 (Stata 3, Sample ZK717) 1595 B.C. ± 140 years.

It should also be noted that at the Luodamiao 洛達廟 and Nanguanwai
南關外 sites at Zhengzhou 鄭州商城遺址, strata of the Erlitou culture
二里頭文化are found under the strata of the Erligang culture 二里崗文化.

Thus the dates obtained by radiocarbon testing reveal that the samples
tested were from a period earlier than the Erligang period of the Shang
dynasty 商代二里崗時期 and correspond, without any possible doubt,
to the Xia period 夏時期.

In conclusion, the radio-carbon test results prove that the Erlitou culture
preceded that of Erligang and that the four periods of the site at Erlitou
correspond perfectly and undeniably to the Xia dynasty.

Right page: Jue 爵 Count & Countess Paul Lippens collection, Brussels, Belgium

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