Hello,Yinxu⑤ | Chariot Pit: The Earliest Horse-drawn Chariot Remains and Wheel Tracks in China

　　走进殷墟⑤丨车马坑：中国最早的车马实物和道路遗迹

Editor's note: Confirmed by historic documents, archaeological excavations and oracle bone inscriptions as the capital site of the late Shang Dynasty (1600-1046 BC), Yinxu or the Yin Ruins is usually regarded as the cornerstone of the project on tracing the origins of Chinese civilization launched by China in 2001. As a key component of world civilization, it has provided solid evidence for the continuity and pluralistic and integrated pattern of Chinese civilization, bringing recorded Chinese history nearly 1,000 years earlier than previously believed. Starting on October 25, we are launching a series of videos about Yinxu to help you gain a deeper understanding of it. Here is the fifth episode: Chariot Pit - The Earliest Horse-drawn Chariot Remains and Wheel Tracks in China.

编者按：作为中国历史上第一个有文献记载并为考古发掘与甲骨文所证实的都城遗址，殷墟是中华文明探源工程的原点和基石，是中华文明连续不断、多元一体的重要实证，也是世界文明史中重要一环。殷墟及甲骨文的重大发现把中国信史向前推进了近千年，同时，因其具有全球突出普遍价值而被列入《世界遗产名录》。为更好讲述中国故事、让世界读懂中国，10月25日起，河南国际传播中心、大河网联合殷墟景区共同推出“走进殷墟”双语系列报道。今日推出第五期：《车马坑：中国最早的车马实物和道路遗迹》。

The horse-drawn chariots discovered at Yinxu are the earliest material evidence of animal-powered vehicles unearthed in China. They prove that China is among the earliest ancient civilizations inventing and using wheeled transport system. The six Shang Dynasty chariots and wheel tracks are well-preserved. They are of high academic and exhibition value. Research suggests that the Shang Dynasty chariots are aesthetically appealing and structurally solid. They are not heavy, but speedy, well-balanced and comfortable.

殷墟考古发掘的商代车马坑，是华夏考古发现的畜力车最早的实物标本。由此证明，中国是世界上最早发明和使用车的文明古国之一。殷墟宫殿宗庙遗址展出的6座商代车马坑和道路遗迹，保存基本完整，具有较高学术研究和展示价值。研究表明，殷商时期的马车造型美观、结构牢固，车体轻巧、运转迅速，重心平衡、乘坐舒适。（赵汉青 杨佳欣）

Web editor: Li Xiaoshu, Zhang Rui