Surprisingly, this “face” was later recognized as a national treasure and prohibited from being exported for exhibition.
In the 1980s, Chinese archaeologists discovered an ancient tomb containing numerous archaeological sites in the Niu Ha Liang area of Chaoyang City, Liaoning Province. Here, they accidentally found a national treasure that can be said to have rewritten Chinese history, so valuable that it was not allowed to leave the country for exhibition. Notably, this treasure was found in a highly ironic circumstance.
Specifically, in April 1981, the cultural relic survey team of Liaoning Province heard that relics were often unearthed in ancient tombs in Niu Ha Liang. Many people had even found artifacts made of jade. By 1983, archaeologists including Sun Shudao and Guo Daishun had led a group of experts to Niu Ha Liang to begin a large-scale excavation.
While taking a break, an archaeologist unexpectedly found a human head statue beneath the sand. (Photo: Sohu).
After several days of excavation, the archaeologists had not found any valuable cultural relics and were exhausted. One evening, as the experts finished their work and began to pack up their tools, a staff member felt the urge to use the restroom. He found a secluded spot to “relieve himself” and suddenly felt a chill down his spine as a face emerged from the ground. Feeling that something was amiss, he began to dig and successfully uncovered a ceramic human head.
Overjoyed, he immediately reported to the team leader. It turned out that this ceramic head was part of the Niu Ha Liang Goddess Statue. After some searching, they were fortunate to discover the Niu Ha Liang Goddess Temple, which dates back nearly 5,000 years in the nearby area. This discovery sent shockwaves through the archaeological world.
This statue is part of the Niu Ha Liang Goddess Statue. (Photo: Sohu)
According to the memories of the archaeologists, when the head of the goddess was revealed, everyone held their breath, and the only sound was the rustling of brushes scraping away the dirt. The moment the statue was unearthed marked a new milestone in archaeological history.
The statue, once fully restored, measures 22.4 cm in height and 21 cm in width. It features prominent cheekbones, a slightly upturned nose, wide lips, and piercing eyes that exude a mysterious and majestic aura. The statue’s forehead is adorned with a circlet, and its eyes are inlaid with round jade stones measuring 2.3 cm in diameter.
The Niu Ha Liang goddess is currently on display at the Liaoning Provincial Museum. This is the earliest goddess statue made of ceramics unearthed in China. Following this, the statue was recognized as a national treasure and was requested to be prohibited from leaving the country for exhibitions.
The face of the Niu Ha Liang goddess after restoration. (Photo: Sohu).
According to archaeologists, both the goddess statue and the temple belong to the Hongshan Culture, which is a Neolithic culture in northeastern China. This is one of the earliest civilizations to emerge in China. Sites belonging to the Hongshan Culture have been discovered in an area stretching from Inner Mongolia to Liaoning.
Funerary objects from the Hongshan Culture include some of the earliest known jade artifacts. The Hongshan Culture is renowned for its C-shaped dragon statues, statues of various animals, and human figures (both male and female). The materials used for these statues are diverse but primarily consist of jade and stone. Notably, bronze and bronze alloys have also appeared. The tools and techniques used to create these objects remain a mystery to this day.
The C-shaped dragon statue is one of the identifying symbols of the Hongshan Culture in China. (Photo: Sohu)
Like the Yangshao Culture, the archaeological sites of the Hongshan Culture have provided the oldest evidence of Chinese feng shui practices. The presence of both circular and square shapes at the ceremonial centers of the Hongshan Culture indicates the early presence of the cosmological theory of “heaven is round and the earth is square.” Early feng shui was based on astronomy to understand the relationship between humans and the universe.
