河南淅川下寺楚墓雖然跟楚國文化有密切關係，但是隨葬品中也包括外來遺物或 者其他地方文化的影響。為了瞭解公元前六世紀的楚國文化，這個遺址可謂相當重要。一、 下寺主墓裡面有四千多個海貝、二百餘件料器，七顆石髓管，其中一顆石髓管可能是從印度 河流域，經西域，來到楚國。除了典型楚國銅器以外，還有一些外來銅器作品，和楚國工匠 摹仿外來銅器作品。這些物品是從四個方向進入楚國，而且原產地或者蒐集的地區會在離下 寺墓地很遠的地方。這些外來物品是通過甚麼路線﹖怎麼影響到楚國﹖是對楚工業作坊，對 楚文化有甚麼影響﹖都得再作分析一下。所謂楚文化不是一個有的整體，也不是獨立發展起 來的。要瞭解楚文化就需要瞭解當時個個區域的文化交流關係。

　　　　　In this paper, I intend to show that a significant proportion of objects excavated from the Xichuan 淅川，Xiasi下寺Chu tombs were not produced in Chu, but had been introduced from various regions north and west of the kingdom. The location of the site at a cross-road may explain why many status objects and prestigious goods were accumulated by the local rulers, who claimed to descend from the Chu royal family. Two major cases can be distinguished:1.imported small precious goods such as marine cowries, semi-pre-cious stone beads, faience or "glass "beads, and an iron blade dagger:possible connections with far distant regions(and even outside of China) are suggested.2.problems concerning the geographical origin of smoe ritual objects:the paper considers three different cases. The study of the decoration of three bronzes without inscription shows that they are close to the standard decoration of Houma 侯馬 bronzes and could be products of Jin 晉 foundries. The study of a few jade pieces shows that an artistic tradition may have pertained for at least one century without much change, while the inlaid bronzes testify to the speed with which a "foreign" technique and its stylistic features were adapted to local taste by Chu.