Archaeologists in Zhejiang Province, Eastern China, recently discovered a set of musical instruments made of porcelain within the grounds of the Yue Kingdom palace ruins, dating back to the Eastern Zhou period (770 BC to 256 BC). This site is located in the Yuecheng District of Shaoxing City in the province.
The musical instruments excavated at the Yue Kingdom palace ruins in Shaoxing City, Zhejiang Province, Eastern China, on June 12, 2023. (Photo: THX/TTXVN).
The newly discovered collection includes three cylindrical percussion instruments and six ancient bell-like instruments. This is the first time a set of this kind has been found at archaeological sites related to Yue culture. The cylindrical instruments are typically associated with drums, used as signaling devices for advancing or retreating in battle.
According to researcher Luo Rupeng from the Zhejiang Provincial Institute of Cultural Heritage and Archaeology, such musical instrument sets are usually made from bronze. However, during the Yue period, valuable bronze was prioritized for manufacturing weapons and agricultural tools rather than musical instruments.
In addition to the musical instruments, many valuable artifacts were also found at this archaeological site, including rare ceramic fragments, primarily kitchenware and food storage items…
Archaeologists also discovered wooden paddles, reinforcing the understanding that the people of Southern Yue often traveled by boat. Many components of rice and various crop species were also found at this archaeological site.
