The earliest Big Dipper in China

[The earliest Big Dipper in China] Recently, an expert appraisal Seminar on astronomical relics at Qingtai Site was co-sponsored by Zhengzhou Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology and Beijing Normal University. Experts at the meeting agreed that the size of the "Beidou Nine Stars" landmark found at the Qingtai site is basically the same as the actual brightness of the celestial body, which is undoubtedly an astronomical relic. "Beidou Nine Stars" and the surrounding sacrificial relics constitute a whole, which is consistent with "Doujian" and "Winter Solstice sacrifice" recorded in ancient Chinese literature. It is of great significance to the study of early Chinese astronomy and the origin of Chinese civilization.
According to Gu Wanfa, president of Zhengzhou Academy of Cultural Relics and Archaeology, Qingtai Site is a newly discovered large trench settlement in Yangshao Culture Period in recent years. Triple trenches have been found with a total area of about 310,000 square meters. Nine pottery pots were found in the site with the pattern of "Beidou Nine Stars", with the handle facing north and loess mounds in the eastern part of the pot. The urn coffins of the same period and the tombs, mortars and sacrificial pits of different periods were distributed around the pottery. The sacrificial relics of "Beidou Jiuxing" in Qingtai have clear archaeological culture and stratigraphic relationship. Its discovery shows that the observation of "Beidou" celestial phenomena and "Dougou timing" in ancient China has been very accurate.
Taosi Observatory in Xiangfen County, Shanxi Province, about 4200 years ago, is the most important discovery of astronomical calendar research in ancient China in recent years. The discovery of astronomical relics at Qingtai site is another breakthrough in astronomical calendar research in China.
Experts pointed out that ancient Chinese literature recorded the theory of "Beidou Seven Stars" and "Beidou Nine Stars", adding two stars to form "Beidou Nine Stars" on the basis of "Beidou Seven Stars". The discovery of the "Beidou Nine Stars" relics indicates that the ancestors of Qingtai have acquired certain astronomical knowledge. The worship of the Beidou celestial bodies may have formed a set of solemn sacrificial rituals for observing solar terms and praying for a bumper harvest. "River Map" records, "Huangdi Zhi, Jingxing also seen in Beidou." Some experts believe that a star in the southwest of the Dougou handle of the "Beidou Nine Stars" at the Qingtai site may be the "Jingxing" related to this record. If the discovery of the "Jingxing" is verified with the ancient records, it will be an important discovery in the history of Chinese astronomy.