New excavations at the Liangzhu Culture site in Zhejiang have identified a specialized complex of stone altars associated with the earliest known evidence of silk-reeling rituals. The site features stone carvings of silkworm pupae and small basins designed for the ritual immersion of cocoons, pointing to the prehistoric origins of the Canhuo (Silkworm Fire) Festival.
This discovery confirms that the religious veneration of the Goddess of Silkworms was established long before the formalization of the Silk Road. The altars were strategically positioned to align with the spring emergence of mulberry leaves, highlighting the sophisticated integration of agricultural cycles and spiritual festivals in early Chinese civilization.