In Shanxi province, archaeologists have identified specialized ritual pits containing layers of non-combustible offerings, providing evidence for the early Hanshi, or "Cold Food" festival. This tradition, which involves a ban on lighting fires, predates the modern Qingming festival by centuries.
The pits contained remains of charred wild dates and residues of cold millet cakes, alongside ritual stone knives. Scholars believe these findings illuminate the transition from prehistoric winter-cleansing rites to the formalized state-sponsored festivals of the Han Dynasty.