Excavations at the Sanxingdui-linked site of Xichang in Sichuan have revealed a set of remarkably preserved wooden chariot wheels dating back 3,000 years. The design of the wheels, which feature intricate bronze hubcaps and Scythian-style spokes, suggests a level of technological exchange between the Central Asian Steppes and the Sichuan basin much earlier than previously documented by the Silk Road narratives.
Researchers are currently conducting dendrochronology and isotopic analysis to determine if the wheels were manufactured locally or imported as prestige items. This find indicates that the ancient 'Southwestern Silk Road' was a vibrant conduit for heavy military and transport technology during the late Bronze Age.