Archaeologists in China's Shaanxi Province have unearthed a specialized industrial quarter dedicated to imperial carpentry during the Western Zhou period. The site contains the foundations of several large workshops where wooden components for palaces and ritual furniture were crafted. Remarkably, the team discovered a complete set of bronze wood-working tools, including adzes, chisels, and saws, still arranged in a storage pit.
The find is significant for its evidence of advanced mortise-and-tenon joinery techniques that predate previous estimates by centuries. Analysis of wood shavings found in the soil indicates the use of exotic hardwoods imported from southern regions, highlighting the reach of Zhou trade networks. This carpentry hub provided the essential infrastructure for the dynasty's monumental architecture and sophisticated ritual objects.