Chinese archaeologists have unearthed an ancient tomb dating
back 1,700 years ago in east China's Jiangxi Province.
The tomb, located at a construction site in Nanchang, capital of
Jiangxi, can be traced back to the Jin Dynasty (265 AD - 420
AD).
Consisting of three chambers, the tomb is 8.1 meters long and
two meters high. Built with carved bricks, the tomb looks very
solid. "It was a typical tomb in Jin Dynasty, according to its
structure," said Li Guoli, curator of the Nanchang Museum.
Six funeral objects, including celadon porcelain wares and
lacquer cases, were excavated from two of the three chambers. The
unearthed items would provide valuable clues for the study of the
burial customs and life in the area during the Jin Dynasty, said
Li.
On March 5, archaeologists unearthed a tomb from the Eastern Jin
Dynasty (318 AD - 420 AD) as well as more than 50 celadon porcelain
wares and lacquer cases at a railway construction site in
Nanchang.
In 1997, six tombs dating back to the Western Jin Dynasty (265
AD - 317 AD) were discovered just 15 meters from the Eastern Jin
tomb. One hundred and twenty-four pottery, bronze, gold and silver
objects, including two rare relics of state-level value, were
excavated from the tombs.
"That so many tombs from the Jin Dynasty are unearthed in
Nanchang indicates a booming economy and culture in Nanchang during
that period," said Fan Changsheng, director of Jiangxi Provincial
Institute of Archaeology.
Fan urged the Nanchang municipal government should value the
importance of the archaeological discovery and protect the
tombs.
(Xinhua News Agency December 26, 2006)