The oldest dragon totem in China

A 3,700-year-old dragon antiquity, made from more than 2,000 pieces of turquoise, has been identified as China's oldest dragon totem.

The antiquity was discovered in the relics of Erlitou in Yanshi City, Henan Province. Many Chinese scholars believe that Erlitou is the capital of the Xia dynasty (2,100 - 1,600 BC) - China's first dynasty.

The totem is shaped like a python, made from more than 2,000 pieces of turquoise.

"Some ancient dragon artifacts than the one found in Erlitou have been found elsewhere, such as a dragon-shaped 7,000-year-old jade statue bearing a pig head and a grim snout, found in Chifeng city , Inner Mongolia, but they have no direct relationship with the ancient civilization that originated in the middle, " said archaeologist Du Jinpeng.

"Only a dragon discovered in Erlitou has a direct connection to the Ha, Thuong and Chu dynasties and is connected to a circuit," said Du, a researcher at the Institute of Archeology. "So the dragon statue in Erlitou is the direct source of the dragon totem of the Chinese nation . "

Dragon-shaped totem, 70.2 cm long, looks like a python. It is made of more than 2,000 pieces of turquoise, each piece is only 0.1 cm thick and 0.2-0.9 cm long.

"It is very rare to find such a sophisticated dragon creature at that stage. And it has a deep historical, artistic and scientific value," Du said.

Xu Hong, who discovered the dragon totem, said the item was unearthed from the tomb of an official in the palace in Erlitou. The statue made of turquoise is found between the tomb's shoulders and pelvis.

Du Jinpeng suggested that the totem could be attached to a power staff used in sacrificial rituals. The body in the grave may belong to an official in charge of the ceremony.

Dragon images are also found in other areas, such as on pottery and a copper plate at Erlitou. Some dragons look like snakes, but others look like dragon images today with claws of birds and fish fins.

Experts believe that the ancient Chinese people began to form at that time with Erlitou as the center. All dragon-shaped relics are found in the palace area.

"It shows that the dragon has become a symbol of royal power and status at that time and this concept has been passed down from generation to generation in thousands of years of Chinese history", Du identify.