The 2016–2017 excavation of the bronze foundry zone at the Guanzhuang site, Xingyang, Henan

The School of History, Zhengzhou University et al. excavated two bronze foundry zones in the northern part of the larger city at the Guanzhuang site in the summer of 2016 and the autumn of 2017. Archaeological features related to bronze casting were revealed, such as ash pits, wells, and sacrificial pits. A large number of casting artifacts were also retrieved, including clay molds, models, cores, furnace fragments, tuyeres, bronze knives, and whetstones. Judging from the characteristics of the clay molds and co-existing pottery artifacts, the bronze foundries dates to the early- and mid-Spring and Autumn period. A great variety of unearthed artifacts from the Guanzhuang bronze foundries, as well as the material repertoire for casting large bronze ritual vessels and coins, testify that the owner of the workshop could have enjoyed a high social status and possessed great wealth. This is of great importance for the understanding of the nature and function of the Guanzhuang site during the early- and mid-Spring and Autumn period.