Experts believe Sanxingdui's elite class was divided.

Most wore a braid, but a smaller group wore topknots.

♪ Chinese American Jay Xu, who studies Sanxingdui bronzes, has spent the past 40 years trying to unravel their significance.

♪ -Sanxingdui is extraordinary because it's overwhelmingly striking in its sculpture tradition.

That's distinguished Sanxingdui from any other cultures during ancient China.

-One of the tallest bronze relics is this standing statue, which is nearly 3 meters tall.

The two slots at the back of the head show it once wore a topknot, suggesting he was part of the elite.

-This is one and only full-length bronze figure from Sanxingdui, from ancient times in China and in the world.

-The detail of the clothing on the statue indicates this person was important in the Sanxingdui society.

-You can see those three layers very clearly on the right side of the figure.

The outermost layer of garment, which is a mantle, has four beautiful dragons.

But he is barefooted, which suggests he is standing on a piece of sacred ground.

-With such lavish clothing, this important figure was probably one of the highest-ranking religious leaders in Sanxingdui.

The position of the hand suggests an offering gesture.

Several other statues support this theory.

-Clearly, this figure represents power.

Probably the highest power of the local society.

And he here is in a very ceremonial stance, either making an offering or displaying insignia of power.

♪ -But these statues reveal only a fraction of Sanxingdui society.