On May 23, SUSTech Center for Social Sciences (CSS) collaborated with BGI (Beijing Genomics Institute) and did a sampling study of the horse and chariot pits from the Shang Dynasty at CSS’ Cultural Relics Laboratory.

CSS Professor Tang Jigen along with BGI Researchers Lan Tianming and Deng Qiuyang sampled horse bones and human bones from the chariot pits to analyze the ancient DNA in the samples. Research findings involve the color of both the horsehair and the human race, which may complement and improve the study of the horse and human relics from the late Shang Dynasty.

Established in 2017, the CSS Cultural Relics Laboratory has conducted collaborative research with Museum of Panlongcheng Ruins and the Sichuan Provincial Cultural Relics & Archeology Research Institute. In the future, the Laboratory will take advantage of SUSTech’s academic strength and Shenzhen’s industry resources, and conduct more original, unique interdisciplinary research.

The Shang Dynasty is earliest dynasty of traditional Chinese history supported by archaeological evidence, ruling from c. 1600 BC to 1046 BC. It succeeded the Xia Dynasty, which is possibly the first Dynasty in traditional Chinese history.