Guandimiao

Guandimiao is a Late Shang period village located in Xingyang, Henan, approximately 18 km south of the Yellow River. The site is notable for its pit houses, sacrificial pits, and 23 kilns, indicating a significant ceramic production likely for regional export. With a maximum estimated population of around 100 individuals, Guandimiao provides insights into rural Shang economies and social structures. The presence of oracle bones and sacrificial pits suggests local ritual practices, while the scarcity of grave goods in over 200 graves highlights differing burial customs from those in elite Shang centers. The site was occupied from approximately 1250 to 1100 BCE, during the Anyang phases of the Late Shang period.