陕西岐山孔头沟遗址发现罕见珊瑚化石质权杖头

Core Insights - The recent discovery of a coral fossil scepter head from the Western Zhou period at the Kongtougou site in Shaanxi provides significant insights into the circulation of resources and cultural practices in ancient China [1][2] Group 1: Discovery Details - A coral fossil scepter head was unearthed from a Western Zhou tomb at the Kongtougou site, made from rare coral fossil material, which is crucial for studying the resource circulation in the Western Zhou royal territory [1] - The scepter head measures 3.4 cm in height, 4.4 cm in diameter, and has a hole diameter of 1.3 to 1.5 cm, indicating its potential use as a scepter head [1] - The coral fossil is identified as either Wei Gen coral or Liangshan coral, dating back approximately 290 to 250 million years [1] Group 2: Cultural and Historical Context - The discovery of the scepter head suggests inter-regional resource circulation during the Western Zhou period, with raw materials likely sourced from the Hanzhong area [2] - The presence of coral fossil scepter heads in the Guanzhong region reflects a specific social and cultural context, where the Western Zhou dynasty adopted and integrated foreign cultural traits [2] - Despite the adoption of the scepter head, the Western Zhou did not establish a strict ceremonial system for its use, indicating that this foreign cultural element did not fully assimilate into the Western Zhou ritual system [2]