AB Archaeologia Baltica 1392-5520 1392-5520 KU 10_105-109_HENRIKSSON Article A new attempt to date the Xia, Shang and western Zhou dynasties by solar eclipses Henriksson Göran goran.henriksson@astro.uu.se ∗ Uppsala University Corresponding author. 10 105 109 20 12 2008 20 12 2008 02 11 2007 29 10 2008 2008 Klaipėda University

The identification of six significant solar eclipses during specific years of the reigns of ancient Chinese kings from the Xia, Shang and Western Zhou Dynasties has made it possible to establish an absolute chronology back to the first year of King Yu, 2070 BC.

 Solar eclipses Earth's rotation Lunar Secular Acceleration ancient Chinese Dynasties ancient Chinese chronology