The remains of a gold mask are among the 3,000-year-old artifacts (历史文物) found at Sanxingdui, a 4.6-square-mile area outside Chengdu, capital of Sichuan province. 【小题1】 (weigh) about 280 grams and estimated to be made from 84% gold, the mask is one of over 500 items unearthed from six newly discovered “sacrificial pits (祭祀坑)” in Sanxingdui.

More than 50,000 ancient artifacts 【小题2】 (find) at Sanxingdui since the 1920s, when a local farmer 【小题3】 (accidental) came upon a number of relics at the site. A major breakthrough 【小题4】 (occur) in 1986, with the discovery of two ceremonial pits containing over 1,000 items. Discoveries made at the site date back to the 12th and 11th centuries BC, and many of the items are now 【小题5】 display at an on-site museum.

The site has completely changed experts’ understanding of 【小题6】 the ancient civilization developed in China. In particular, 【小题7】 (evident) suggests that the unique ancient Shu society developed independently of neighboring cultures in the Yellow River Valley, 【小题8】 was traditionally considered to be the origin of Chinese civilization.

Along with other Shu archaeological 【小题9】 (site), it is credited by the UN as “【小题10】 outstanding representative of the Bronze Age Civilization of China, East Asia and even the world.”

Shadow plays, the earliest of 【小题1】 started over 2000 years ago, have enjoyed a long history in China and consist of many styles. One famous branch displayed in museum is called Taian Shadow Play. It is believed that it originated in the Song Dynasty when an emperor came to Mount Tai to offer sacrifice. In the past, the authentic shadow figures 【小题2】 (make) of donkey skin. But nowadays，to save the 【小题3】 (life) of many donkeys, they have found some man-made materials, which are used for the figures in the hands-on area.

Dazu Rock Carvings refers to all of the 102 cliffside carvings in Dazu district, Chongqing. The 【小题1】 (construct) of those rock carvings dates back to 650, and continued into the 17th century. The scenic area 【小题2】 (add) to the World Heritage List in December 1999.

So far, 50,000 statues and 100,000 carved Chinese characters 【小题3】 (identify) and over 75 cliff statue sites are under state protection. The cliff statues are large in size, well carved and among the best 【小题4】 (preserve) of their similarities.

The Dazu Rock Carvings have 【小题5】 important position in the history of China’s grotto art. Artisans created these rock carvings not simply by replicating (复制) images that their ancestors had made 【小题6】 by combining religious figures with ordinary life, 【小题7】 recorded the transition (过渡) of society. The statues show the evolution of carving and national features, 【小题8】 (break) new ground in religious art and creating dynamic figures full of life. They stand on the peak of Chinese rock carving art with their historical values and aesthetic (美学) quality.

According to the UNESCO description, the Dazu Rock Carvings are remarkable 【小题9】 their rich diversity of subject matter and the light they cast on daily life in ancient China. Their existence proved the 【小题10】 (harmony) synthesis (结合) of Buddhism, Taoism and Confucianism during that period.