Discovery and significance of buried paleoearthquake of the early Shang Dynasty (1260-1520 BC) in Xuecun, Xingyang, Henan Province, China.

Due to the South-to-North Water Diversion Project, the salvage archaeological excavations were conducted in Xuecun, Xingyang city, Henan Province, China, by the Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology of Henan Province in 2005 and 2006. Ample evidence for a paleoearthquake was found during the excavation in the Xuecun archaeological site. The evidence includes faults, two small grabens and a series of ground fissures. These geological structures are considered to be generated by the earthquake. Based on the relationship between the paleoseismic relics and the cultural layers excavated in the site, we inferred that the earthquake took place in the early Shang Dynasty (the Erligang period). The AMS 14C dates of charcoal from ash pits in the site indicate that the earthquake occurred between 1260 BC and 1520 BC. The paleoearthquake during this period was first discovered in the Central Plain of China. This discovery not only extents the scope of paleoseismic investigation, but also provides valuable information for safety evaluation of the South-to-North Water Diversion Project. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]