Ming riverbed relics illuminate 17th century Sichuan

CHENGDU — Chinese archaeologists announced on Nov 17 that they have excavated more than 10,000 artifacts of high historical and cultural value from a riverbed.

The relics, which are believed to be treasures owned by Zhang Xianzhong, the leader of an uprising during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), were retrieved from the Jiangkou stretch of the Minjiang River in Meishan city, Sichuan province.

The new finds, which include the gold seal of a vassal prince and a large number of silver ingots from Zhang’s regime, offer a wealth of historical information and glimpses into the social landscape of the late Ming Dynasty, according to experts from the Sichuan Provincial Cultural Relics and Archaeology Research Institute. The gold seal is a key piece of evidence of the Ming Dynasty investiture system, while the silver ingots reflect the economic situation of the time, said Liu Zhiyan, an expert at the institute and leader of the on-site excavations.

“The historical information provided by the newly retrieved relics is extremely varied and touches on politics, economy, culture, education, the military and other aspects of the late Ming Dynasty,” Liu said.

Legend has it that in 1646, Zhang was defeated by Ming soldiers while attempting to transfer his haul of treasure southward. About 1,000 boats loaded with money and assorted valuables were said to have sunk in the skirmish.

The site was first excavated in 2017, and the rich findings over the years confirmed there was some truth to the legend.

In addition, a large number of bronze weapons and tools dating back over 2,000 years have also been retrieved at the site.

“It shows that ancient Jiangkou has been a hub of strategic significance and a trade center for a long time,” Liu said.