Ancient gold mask uncovered in China sparks online memes
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SATURDAY, AUGUST 20, 2022
Ancient gold mask uncovered in China sparks online memes

South Asia

TBS Report
23 March, 2021, 02:10 pm
Last modified: 23 March, 2021, 03:01 pm

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Ancient gold mask uncovered in China sparks online memes

The artefact is estimated to be made from 84% gold and weighed about 280 grams

TBS Report
23 March, 2021, 02:10 pm
Last modified: 23 March, 2021, 03:01 pm
Chinese archaeologists announced new findings from the 3,000-year-old #Sanxingdui Ruins on Saturday, unearthing more than 500 items, including a golden mask, from 6 sacrificial pits. Photo: Collected via @YouthChina
Chinese archaeologists announced new findings from the 3,000-year-old #Sanxingdui Ruins on Saturday, unearthing more than 500 items, including a golden mask, from 6 sacrificial pits. Photo: Collected via @YouthChina

A 3,000-year-old ceremonial gold mask, found at an archaeological site in China's Sichuan province, has become an overnight social media sensation in the country.

The artefact, weighed about 280 grams, is estimated to be made from 84% gold.

According to experts, the discovery of one of the 500 Bronze-Age relics could provide new insights on the ancient Shu state, which ruled the area before 316 BC.

But the mysterious half-faced mask has also spawned a popular meme and tribute videos on social media, BBC reported.

Stunning new discoveries at Sanxingdui again after 30 years! This time six sacrificial pits and more than 500 pieces of artifacts were excavated. Amazing gold mask, bronze spirit trees and vessels unearthed. pic.twitter.com/Hn8W8RAQHh— Joy Yi (@joyatyungang) March 20, 2021

As soon as the latest batch of discoveries was announced on Saturday, users of microblogging platform Weibo started making pictures superimposing the mask on the faces of pop culture figures.

The hashtag "Sanxingdui gold mask photo editing competition" has been viewed nearly 4 million times, and has spawned numerous posts as netizens praised the "stunning" and "beautiful" mask.

Do you want a golden mask too? #Sanxingdui #goldenmask #ChineseCulture #China #ChinaStory pic.twitter.com/mJpg01ZT5p— Youth China (@YouthChina) March 22, 2021

Officials at the museum for Sanxingdui - one of the most important archaeological sites in China - soon joined in on the fun.

"Good morning, we've just woken up, apparently everyone's been busy doing some Photoshopping?" the museum said in a recent Weibo post while sharing its own take on the meme.

The museum also released a promotional animated music video starring the mask and other artefacts, while a rap song created by a TV host praising the "intelligence" of the ancient civilisation has gone viral.

#SanxingduiDiscovery pic.twitter.com/VcjPnP6S9e— Sanxingdui Culture (@SanxingduiC) March 20, 2021

It is not the first time a Chinese artefact has attracted the attention of social media users - in August, another relic was found to resemble the pig characters in popular video game Angry Birds.

In addition to the gold mask, archaeologists at Sanxingdui have found bronze pieces, gold foils as well as artefacts made from ivory, jade and silk.

Archaeologists uncover 3,000-year-old gold mask in southwest China pic.twitter.com/gxWSXjmRCs— Cheetah?S.?S. (@CheetaHurricane) March 22, 2021

The items were uncovered in six "sacrificial pits", said the National Cultural Heritage Administration, which the Shu civilisation used to offer sacrifices in prayers for prosperity and peace.

The Sanxingdui ruins were discovered by accident by a farmer in 1929. To date, more than 50,000 relics have been unearthed at the site, which is around 60km (37 miles) from the city of Chengdu.

Top News / World+Biz

Gold mask / Ancient mask / china

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