始建于4300年前的石峁城址,是探索中國文明起源的一座里程碑。外城東門是石峁城址中最先系統發掘呈現的重要考古遺址,其城門建筑的形制、朝向,奠基儀式的祭坑布置、人牲使用、祭祀禮儀均有一定的特殊性和神秘性。本文從考古學、天文考古學、古文字學和文獻學等學科的角度,通過隨機測量、統計及科學計算來初步求證外城東門遺址蘊藏的深刻文化內涵,進而嘗試探索石峁人的宇宙觀和信仰。

The Shimao walled town that was constructed 4,300 years ago was a milestone in the development and origin of Chinese civilization. The east gate was the most important feature that has been systematically excavated during the first stage of the project. The layout and orientation of the gateway, patterns of sacrificial pits that were associated with the construction process, the using of human sacrifice victims, and sacrificial rituals collectively illustrate the characteristics and mysterious nature that has not been known before. This study attempts to combine archaeological, archaeoastronomical,palaeographic, and textual analytical approaches to shed new light on the function and design of the east gate. Through random measuring, statistical analysis, and scientific calculation and measurements, the authors explore the deep and significant cultural meaning of the east gate, as well as the cosmological concepts and belief among Shimao people.