Archaeological Discovery of a 5,000-Year-Old Dragon Sculpture in China

Follow-up – INA

 Chinese archaeologists have discovered a dragon-shaped sculpture carved from jade inside a stone tomb in a mountainous region in the north of the country.

The researchers determined that the dragon, estimated to be 5,000 years old, was found along with a collection of other artifacts in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region of northern China.

This dragon, one of 100 artifacts carved from the same precious stone, is palm-sized and represents the oldest known sculpture of its kind discovered to date.

Scientists revealed that the sculpture measures 15 cm in length, 9.5 cm in width, and has a thickness of 3 cm. However, its features differ from the commonly recognized appearance of dragons in modern times, with Chinese media reports stating that it has the head of a pig.

This archaeological finding highlights jade sculptures, which were prevalent in ancient northern Chinese culture approximately 5,000 to 6,500 years ago.

The discoveries also included sculptures in the shape of crowns, tools, jewelry, and decorative items, which researchers believe were part of burial rituals practiced during that period.