A large catacomb containing more than 1,000 coffins has been
discovered in Duyun city of Southwest China's
Guizhou Province, local experts said.
The catacomb is believed to have belonged to the Miao
ethnic group which dates back to the Yuan Dynasty (1279-1368),
according to the initial estimates by the experts.
Burial in a catacomb was a traditional rite of the Miao ethnic
group, explained Wei Deyi, director of the city's relics
administration.
Wei said that according to the tradition, when a Miao died, he
would be placed in a coffin and carried to a large cave where he
was placed in order of his seniority in his family or clan.
The huge natural cave, located in Xiaochongzhai, a stockaded
village in Duyun city, is an irregular round shape about 30 meters
in depth and covering an area of about 2,000 m2, Wei
said.
Surrounded by virgin forests, it is about 1,400 meters above sea
level, with about 3,000 local residents living in the vicinity of
the cave, he added.
There were two burial sites at the north and south ends of the
cave, where some 400 coffins were observed, all facing south. The
other coffins, presumably as many as more than 600 were scattered
across the cave which were covered with mud, stones or debris.
The Miao traditional waistband, coir sole and blue skirts were
found in the coffins leading experts to conclude that the catacomb
was used for Miao burials.
Totem designs of chickens, ducks and cattle were also painted on
the coffins, expressing the hope for the prosperity of both humans
and animals in their future generations, explained Wei.
However, the catacomb was seriously damaged due to a lack of
preservation. According to Geng Wenguang, a 75-year-old resident of
the blockaded village, there were about 1,500 coffins in the
catacomb when he was a child. Three to four layers of coffins were
placed on both the right and left sides of the cave at that
time.
But now the catacomb is piled with debris and stones with coffins
scattered around the cave, the old man sighed.
Inconvenient access and a shortage of funds have prevented the
catacomb from getting proper protection and preservation, Wei
stressed.
(Xinhua News Agency March 22, 2003)