Scholar Wang Yirong identified inscriptions on "dragon bones" sold in Beijing as ancient writing, triggering the search for their source and launching modern study of Shang inscriptions tied to the Anyang (Yin) area.
As demand for inscribed bones grew, investigators traced their origin to Xiaotun (near modern Anyang), connecting the finds to the ruins of the late Shang capital area later excavated as Yinxu.
Scholar-collector Luo Zhenyu affirmed that the Xiaotun/Anyang area corresponded to Yin, the last Shang capital described in traditional histories—an important step toward situating oracle-bone texts in an archaeological landscape.
The Institute of History and Philology (Academia Sinica) began systematic excavations at Anyang/Yinxu, directed by Li Ji (Li Chi), marking a foundational moment for modern Chinese field archaeology.
Between 1928 and 1937, excavations at Yinxu documented major components of the late Shang capital, including royal-palace area remains and extensive cemeteries with hundreds of graves—establishing the site’s scale and stratigraphy.
Academia Sinica excavated the Xibeigang cemetery’s large “royal tomb” zone, producing key datasets on Shang elite burial architecture, sacrificial practices, and cemetery organization at Anyang.
Fieldwork at Anyang/Yinxu was stopped in 1937 as the Second Sino-Japanese War disrupted archaeological institutions and made sustained excavation impossible.
Excavations at Anyang resumed in 1950 under a newly established national archaeology apparatus, renewing large-scale research and conservation at Yinxu after wartime interruption.
A permanent field station was set up at Anyang to support long-term excavation, curation, and training—helping institutionalize sustained research at Yinxu.
Archaeologists discovered and excavated Fu Hao’s tomb (M5) at Yinxu—exceptional for being an intact Shang royal burial with inscribed bronzes and rich grave goods, transforming understanding of Shang elite life and ritual.
Following extensive conservation work, the Fu Hao tomb area was opened to visitors, reflecting a growing emphasis on site presentation and public archaeology at Anyang.
A new Yinxu Museum opened (modern museum complex near the ruins), supporting expanded exhibitions and research outreach around Shang archaeology at Anyang.
UNESCO inscribed Yin Xu (Yinxu) on the World Heritage List, recognizing the site’s outstanding value for understanding late Shang urbanism, writing (oracle bones), and royal mortuary landscapes.
Researchers reported a large late-Shang bronze production complex at Xindian (near Anyang), including multiple workshops and abundant molds—significantly expanding the industrial landscape known around Yinxu.
An expanded Yinxu Museum facility opened, presenting Shang civilization with a large exhibition area and thousands of objects, strengthening the public-facing interpretation of Anyang (Yin) excavation results.
Heritage authorities reported identification of a multi-axis road system on the north bank of the Huan River at Yinxu, including a long north–south route interpreted as a major thoroughfare—advancing reconstructions of Shang capital planning.
Anyang (Yin) archaeological excavations and major discoveries (1899–present)
