Majiayuan site

The pits are oriented west-east, with stepped passageways and a catacomb, but Majiayuan also has wooden coffins at the bottom of a vertical pit. A special type of Barrel-shaped jug in bronze was excavated from the tomb of a Rong chief. ==Saka culture==

The culture of Majiayuan, and the preceding Yanglang culture (杨郎青铜文化, 6th-3rd century BCE), are thought to have been directly or indirectly connected to the Saka (Scythian) culture, with suggestions of direct penetration of Saka groups into North China. The animal style of the funeral artifacts in particular connects it to the world of the steppes. In particular, the decorated chariots and many artifacts have strong resemblance with Saka objects from the Issyk-kul kurgan. File:Gold belt plaques found in Majiayuan M4, Gansu.jpg|Gold belt plaques in animal style found in Majiayuan M4, Gansu. File:Gold plate in the form of walking feline found in Majiayuan M3, Gansu.jpg|Gold plate in the form of walking feline found in Majiayuan M3, Gansu. File:Majiayuan tomb figurines.jpg|Majiayuan tomb figurines. File:Arc of the eastern Steppe, the Arc (with its three zones) and the Central Plains, with major sites.png|The Majiayuan culture was part of the "Arc of the eastern Steppe", next to the Central Plain of China. ==Works==