The Jinsha Site Museum in Chengdu, capital city of southwest China's Sichuan Province contains more than 5,000 artifacts from an ancient local civilization named Shu.
One notable piece is a mysterious totem, a gold foil featuring the sun and immortal birds.
![A gold foil featuring the sun and immortal birds is the symbol of Jinsha Site Museum in Chengdu, capital city of southwest China's Sichuan Province. (CGTN Photo) A gold foil featuring the sun and immortal birds is the symbol of Jinsha Site Museum in Chengdu, capital city of southwest China's Sichuan Province. (CGTN Photo)](http://www.ecns.cn/2017/0518/2017518164148.jpg)
Like many others, it was unearthed in 2001 at Jinsha excavation site by accident. Through archaeological studies, researchers deduced that it is a totem for sun-worship. And they believe that the relics could date back to a time from 1,200 BC to 550 BC.
![The totem in Jinsha Site Museum represents sun-worshipping in an ancient civilization in Chengdu. (CGTN Photo) The totem in Jinsha Site Museum represents sun-worshipping in an ancient civilization in Chengdu. (CGTN Photo)](http://www.ecns.cn/2017/0518/2017518164227.jpg)
The site tells a lot about the history of Shu — relics from a site named Sanxingdui, dating back 4,000 to 5,000 years, include traces of the sun and immortal birds.
To help people understand the past, a museum was founded at the site in 2007. The pits are well-preserved and provide a look back more than 3,000 years, when ancient people prayed to heaven and earth for peace and contentment.
![Over 5,000 gold, jade and ivory works have been unearthed since 2001 at Jinsha excavation site. (CGTN Photo) Over 5,000 gold, jade and ivory works have been unearthed since 2001 at Jinsha excavation site. (CGTN Photo)](http://www.ecns.cn/2017/0518/201751816434.jpg)