Chinese researchers analyzed samples of charcoal found in the ash of one of the sacrificial pits in Sanxingdui. The analysis revealed that bamboo served as the main fuel during the rituals.
In addition to bamboo, the ancient inhabitants of this site used febe and pistachio wood. The study's authors, whose work was published in the journal Archaeometry, suggest that the choice of these wood species was deliberate. Possible reasons include the wood's ability to emit a large amount of fragrant smoke, as well as its characteristic golden-yellow hue.