From Gendered Sacrifice to Ancient Politics: DNA Lifts Shroud on Early Chinese Civilisation The discovery of human sacrifice among the Shimao people has shed new light on one of history's greatest enigmas: the emergence of early Chinese civilisation.
Over 4,000 years ago in what is now Shaanxi province, this ancient culture practised a form of ritualistic slaughter that is both fascinating and unsettling.
The Shimao's legacy was long shrouded in mystery, with their majestic walls mistaken for part of the Great Wall until archaeological finds pushed back the timeline.