Graves M8002 and M8004 as examples of the Early Zhongshan burials

Archaeological research at the fortified settlement of Lingshou (capital of Zhongshan Kingdom in the 4th - early 3rd century BC) yielded rich evidence on the period. Particularly important was Cuo-wang ’s tomb which contained a large amount of inventory, objects of art, and inscriptions. Substantial data was obtained from the tomb of his predecessor Chenggong and from the elite burials. The emergence of the Zhongshan Kingdom in the 7th-5th centuries BC is still understudied. The Di tribes, which were the predecessors of the early Zhongshan population, did not belong to “Huaxia,” and therefore there is almost no information about them in Chinese historical sources. Therefore, every early site of Zhongshan is of crucial importance. This article presents the evidence from the early Zhongshan burials M8002 andM8004, which contained large number of artifacts including ringed bridle bit and pin from a carriage wheel. The carriage cannot be undoubtedly interpreted as a combat chariot due to the absence of other details. The artifacts were placed directly into the burials. This feature is typical of the nomad cultures but has been observed among the Shang and in the associated burials (tomb of Fu Hao of ca. 1250 BC). Elements of horse and chariot equipment have been discovered at the sites of the Yuhuangmiao culture (7th-6th centuries BC) and Yanglang culture (5th-3rdcenturies BC) which was similar to Zhongshan. “Semi-barbarian”Zhongshan culture also experienced marked influence of “Huaxia» - agricultural culture which emerged in the eastern part of the Huanghe basin during the Shang period (15th-11th centuries BC), and carriers of the Zhou traditions. Burials M8002 and M8004 have revealed that steppe traditions in Linshou survived in the 6th-5th centuries BC. Parallels with the Yanglang culture suggest that the Zhongshan people who were “genetically” connected with the Scythian-Siberian world had cavalry along with chariots.