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)