A “dragon” from Neolithic shells was found in Inner Mongolia
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In the autonomous Chinese region of Inner Mongolia, archaeologists found a dragon figurine made of mussel shells. The find belongs to the Hongshan Neolithic culture, which existed between 4700 and 2900 BC, the Beijing Times and Global Times reported. The seashell dragon puzzle found in Chifeng City is about 20 centimeters long. The find fills a gap in archaeologists’ knowledge of the dragon symbol in the early Hongshan culture, said Song Jinshan, president of the Inner Mongolia Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology. Scientists also unearthed the remains of two pottery products of that time. Read also: In China, the remains of a tapir and a panda were found, which were sacrificed 2 thousand years ago Photo: Inner Mongolia Daily Previously, archaeologists have already found a C-shaped dragon figurine made of jade, which also belongs to the Hongshan period. However, this relic is significantly different from the previous one. “Dragon” made of mussels is significantly different from C-shaped carving technique and style. It is more detailed and realistic, and the teeth, tail and other parts of the carving are more refined. “Unlike the C-shaped abstract dragon, the shell dragon is a full-fledged, expanded image, which may have been intended to convey the majestic aura of the mythical creature,” the statement said. Archaeologists believe that jade artifacts of the Hongshan culture, which were found earlier, were placed in the ritual structures of representatives of the upper class. At the same time, this “shell dragon” is the key to understanding the spiritual world of people who lived in lower-class settlements. The Hongshan culture is a Neolithic culture in northeastern China that is famous for its carved jade. The Hongshan monuments, which were found in the territories from the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region to Liaoning, date back to approximately 4700-2900 BC. Read also: A skull was found in China, which may belong to an unknown race of people
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