Bronze Zun

Sanxingdui Museum

The bronze vessels found at Sanxingdui are considered to be imports from the middle Yangzi region; the absence of locally-cast bronze vessels at Sanxingdui reinforces the distinctiveness of its Bronze Age culture. 935 cowrie shells were found in this zun. Cowrie shells come from the Indian Ocean, and were widely used throughout Bronze Age China as a form of wealth. Cowries were also used in Southeast Asia, where they were stored in special cowrie containers.