A groundbreaking genetic study of human remains from the Sanxingdui site in China has revealed a significant genetic link to Southeast Asian coastal populations. This suggests that the enigmatic Shu civilization was not isolated but part of a vast maritime and riverine exchange network during the late 2nd millennium BCE.
The research challenges the traditional view of early Chinese civilizations developing in isolation from the south. The findings explain the presence of non-local ivory and sea shells found in the famous Sanxingdui pits, indicating a high degree of mobility along the prehistoric Silk Road of the South.