Archeological finds reveal that 5,000 years ago, ancient Chinese in Shanghai regarded the spotted deer as the symbol of power, wealth and dignity.

This conclusion was drawn after a two month excavation last year around the Guangfulin Ruins in Shanghai where a number of artifacts unearthed were all connected to the spotted deer.

One is a piece of pottery with the designs of both the spotted deer and tomahawks. According to experts, the deer, with huge antlers, were very elegantly inscribed.

As tomahawks were then the symbol of power and only nobles had the right to use pottery like that, experts say that the spotted deer must indicate the dignified social status of the dead.

Further evidence of how these ancient people favored the spotted deer is the special sacrificial custom they discovered in the ruins.

When people die, ancient Chinese usually bury some sacrificial object in front of their tombs. In this case, archeologists found not only pigs but also the head of spotted deer which was obviously more luxurious, they said.

As the word "deer" in Chinese is homophonic to the "fat salary” paid to those in high posts, experts say that spotted deer may also be seen as the symbol of wealth.

Song Jian, an archeological researcher with the Shanghai Museum, believes that the species of spotted deer must have flourished in Shanghai and occupied an important position in local culture and people's life.

With an area of 100,000 square meters, the Guangfulin Ruins is the largest of its kind in 5,000-year-old Liangzhu Culture, which is believed to be the major source of the rich Chinese culture.

(Xinhua News Agency February 26, 2002)