The Tianshouyu bronze zun [Photo provided to en.whkfq.gov.cn]
Two first-grade national relics, the Tianshouyu bronze zun – a vessel used for rituals – and the Hanyang skull fossil, will be sent back to Wuhan, where they were unearthed, on Feb 5.
The two antiques are reportedly to be displayed over the next three months in the Wuhan Economic & Technological Development Zone (WEDZ) Museum starting Feb 6.
The Tianshouyu bronze zun was discovered around the Shamao Mountain in WEDZ 59 years ago. It is 37.1 centimeters tall, 26.4 cm in diameter, and weighs 6.6 kilograms. Three diverse patterns were used to decorate the zun, reflecting the extraordinary craftsmanship of the time.
The antique was then displayed in the United States, Germany, India and other countries. It was also once used as the emblem of the Hubei Provincial Museum.
The Hanyang skull fossil [Photo provided to en.whkfq.gov.cn]
The Hanyang skull fossil was unearthed in 1997. Experts believe that the owner of the skull was around 25 to 35 years old, and was possibly a female of late Homo sapiens that dates back from 10,000 to 50,000 years ago.
The discovery of the skull is significant to Wuhan since it has expanded the city's history to at least 10,000 years ago.
Wang Qiushi, a staff member of the Wuhan Economic & Technological Development Zone Museum, said that the museum has installed systems for humidification, constant temperature, illumination and security to ensure that the relics on display are safe.
