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Where were many Shang dynasty bronze vessels kept before they were buried?
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Chinese bronzes
Bronze gu from Anyang, Henan province, China, Shang dynasty (c. 1600–1046 bce); in the William Rockhill Nelson Gallery and Mary Atkins Museum of Fine Arts, Kansas City, Mo.
Before being buried, many Shang dynasty bronze vessels were likely kept in the ancestral hall of the clan. While some vessels were specifically created for burial, most were originally intended for use in temple sacrifices to offer meat, wine, and grain to the spirits of clan ancestors.1