Chinese archeologists in Henan Archeology Research Institute found a royal tomb in Xinzheng City, Henan Province, the tomb's scale emulates that of Qinshihuang's Mausoleum. It includes 18 horse and carriage pits of Zheng State of the Spring and Autumn Period, 3000 tombs and several Zheng State's monarchs. They belong to the remains of the rulers of the Zheng State.

Last March, Henan Archeology Research Institute accidentally discovered a large bomb in the shape of a Chinese character "Zhong". The tomb is 35 meters long with two passages leading into the tomb.

The already excavated south tomb is 21 meters long, 7.6 meters wide. Some jade ware, metal ware and other mortuary objects are found in the tomb. Also excavated from the tomb are some 15 horse-carriages.

Archeologists said that the tomb is so far the largest royal tomb in China. It is also the first one with passages in the tomb of the Zheng State. According to ancient burial rites, only nobles above marquis level could be buried in tombs with passages.

Judged from the thickness and decorative design on some bronze pieces, the host of the tomb is quite likely to be the King of the Zheng State of the Spring and Autumn period.

From April to August last year, Henan Archeology Research Institute made an extensive exploration in the city, and found this large tomb area. Only one third of the tomb has so far been excavated, according to rough estimation. The cemetery has more than 3000 tombs in it, and they are mostly the middle-and-large-sized graves of the Zheng State in Eastern Zhou Dynasty. Buried in the No.1 pit are 22 luxurious carriages and dozens of horse bones.

Discovery of the tomb indicates that many monarchs of the Zheng State were buried in this tomb area and it also confirmed that the tomb area was designed for nobles of the Zheng State.

Archeologists used VS protection liquid to keep the bright color of those unearthed cultural relics.

Compared with Qinshihuang's Mausoleum, the newly found tomb area dates back to 2500 years, 400 years earlier than that for Qinshihuang. Some 600 pits for burying various terracotta horses and warriors have so far been founded in the Qin tomb area, while the Zheng tomb area has 3000 such pits.

( September 19, 2002)