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An openwork phoenix-shaped jade pendant, found in Tomb No. 14 in Sunjiagang, China. Longshan Culture , now housed at the Hunan Provincial Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology

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An openwork phoenix-shaped jade pendant, found in Tomb No. 14 in Sunjiagang, China. Longshan Culture , now housed at the Hunan Provincial Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology

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Head of a man, most likely of non-Han Chinese ethnicity. China, Tang dynasty . Earthenware . Excavated at Chaoyang, Liaoning province, in 2003. Loaned to the China Institute from Liaoning Provincial Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology

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Head of a man, most likely of non-Han Chinese ethnicity. China, Tang dynasty . Earthenware . Excavated at Chaoyang, Liaoning province, in 2003. Loaned to the China Institute from Liaoning Provincial Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology

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Bronze deer ornament. Former Yan, Sixteen Kingdoms period, China, ca. 337-70 AD. Excavated in 1998 from a tomb in Liaoning province, where it was worn at the waist. Loaned to the China Institute from Liaoning Provincial Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology

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Bronze deer ornament. Former Yan, Sixteen Kingdoms period, China, ca. 337-70 AD. Excavated in 1998 from a tomb in Liaoning province, where it was worn at the waist. Loaned to the China Institute from Liaoning Provincial Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology

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A pagoda-shaped blue and white stoneware jar from a tomb in Zhengzhou, China. Tang dynasty , Zhengzhou Municipal Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology

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A pagoda-shaped blue and white stoneware jar from a tomb in Zhengzhou, China. Tang dynasty , Zhengzhou Municipal Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology

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Iron helmet. Xianbei people, Former Yan state, Sixteen Kingdoms period . Excavated 1998 at Lamadong near Beipiao, Liaoning Province, China. Loaned to the China Institute from Liaoning Provincial Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology

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Iron helmet. Xianbei people, Former Yan state, Sixteen Kingdoms period . Excavated 1998 at Lamadong near Beipiao, Liaoning Province, China. Loaned to the China Institute from Liaoning Provincial Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology

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A one-foot-wide bronze mask and bronze vessel containing cowrie shells dating to about 1100 B.C.E from excavations at Sanxingdui in China's Sichuan Province. Courtesy Sichuan Provincial Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology

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A one-foot-wide bronze mask and bronze vessel containing cowrie shells dating to about 1100 B.C.E from excavations at Sanxingdui in China's Sichuan Province. Courtesy Sichuan Provincial Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology

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Unique animal shaped stand. 771-221 B.C. Excavated at Li-chia-lou Tomb in Hsincheng of Honan Province. Museum of the Institute of History and Philology Taiwan

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Unique animal shaped stand. 771-221 B.C. Excavated at Li-chia-lou Tomb in Hsincheng of Honan Province. Museum of the Institute of History and Philology Taiwan

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An ornately carved lacquered wooden dou-bowl, found in the Tomb of Marquis Yi of Zeng. 433 BCE, now housed at the Hubei Provincial Museum in China

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An ornately carved lacquered wooden dou-bowl, found in the Tomb of Marquis Yi of Zeng. 433 BCE, now housed at the Hubei Provincial Museum in China

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A C-shaped jade dragon made during the Hongshan Culture. 6000-5000 years old, now housed at the National Museum of China

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A C-shaped jade dragon made during the Hongshan Culture. 6000-5000 years old, now housed at the National Museum of China

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A painted pottery jar from the Banshan period of the Chinese Neolithic Majiayao culture. Now housed at the Gansu Provincial Museum in China

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A painted pottery jar from the Banshan period of the Chinese Neolithic Majiayao culture. Now housed at the Gansu Provincial Museum in China

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A jade knife found in the tomb M54 in Huanbei. C. 1400-1100 BCE, Shang Dynasty, now housed at the Yinxu Museum in China

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A jade knife found in the tomb M54 in Huanbei. C. 1400-1100 BCE, Shang Dynasty, now housed at the Yinxu Museum in China

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A jade bear-shaped weight, unearthed from one of the Tombs of the Chu Kings at Jiangsu Province. Western Han Dynasty , now housed at the Xuzhou Museum in China

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A jade bear-shaped weight, unearthed from one of the Tombs of the Chu Kings at Jiangsu Province. Western Han Dynasty , now housed at the Xuzhou Museum in China

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A bronze shovel with a penis shaped handle, unearthed from Tomb No. 113 at the Yangfutou cemetery in Kunming. Dian Kingdom , now housed at the Yunnan Provincial Museum in China

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A bronze shovel with a penis shaped handle, unearthed from Tomb No. 113 at the Yangfutou cemetery in Kunming. Dian Kingdom , now housed at the Yunnan Provincial Museum in China

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A bronze shovel with a penis shaped handle, unearthed from Tomb No. 113 at the Yangfutou cemetery in Kunming. Dian Kingdom , now housed at the Yunnan Provincial Museum in China

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A bronze shovel with a penis shaped handle, unearthed from Tomb No. 113 at the Yangfutou cemetery in Kunming. Dian Kingdom , now housed at the Yunnan Provincial Museum in China

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A 2nd century BCE bamboo chest from the Western Han Dynasty, unearthed from one of the Mawangdui Tombs. Now housed at the Hunan Provincial Museum in China

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A 2nd century BCE bamboo chest from the Western Han Dynasty, unearthed from one of the Mawangdui Tombs. Now housed at the Hunan Provincial Museum in China

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Jade artifacts found in the Tomb 07M23 at Lingjiatan archaeological site in China. The tomb yielded as many as 330 artifacts, dominated by 214 jade items, including an 88kg jade pig and numerous ritual objects like bi discs, huang ornaments, and yue axes

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Jade artifacts found in the Tomb 07M23 at Lingjiatan archaeological site in China. The tomb yielded as many as 330 artifacts, dominated by 214 jade items, including an 88kg jade pig and numerous ritual objects like bi discs, huang ornaments, and yue axes

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"Sungod" stone carving, unearthed at Dongmentou in 1998. Chengbeixi Culture, 6500-5000 BCE, now housed at the Hubei Provincial Museum in China

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"Sungod" stone carving, unearthed at Dongmentou in 1998. Chengbeixi Culture, 6500-5000 BCE, now housed at the Hubei Provincial Museum in China

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A 1600-year-old celadon ox-shaped lamp unearthed from an Eastern Jin Dynasty cemetery in Wenzhou, Zhejiang. Now housed at the Zhejiang Provincial Museum in China

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A 1600-year-old celadon ox-shaped lamp unearthed from an Eastern Jin Dynasty cemetery in Wenzhou, Zhejiang. Now housed at the Zhejiang Provincial Museum in China

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A mantle with bird motifs, made of wool and cotton, found at Wari Kayán necropolis in Peru. 200 BCE-50 CE, Paracas culture, now housed at the National Museum of Archaeology, Anthropology and History of Peru

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A mantle with bird motifs, made of wool and cotton, found at Wari Kayán necropolis in Peru. 200 BCE-50 CE, Paracas culture, now housed at the National Museum of Archaeology, Anthropology and History of Peru

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A Hittite ivory plaque with winged sun-disks, from Megiddo, 1400-1200 BCE, now housed at the Institute for the Study of Ancient Cultures in Chicago

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A Hittite ivory plaque with winged sun-disks, from Megiddo, 1400-1200 BCE, now housed at the Institute for the Study of Ancient Cultures in Chicago

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