Chinese archaeologists discovered 28 boat-shaped tombs dating
back more than 1,300 years in Shangluo City, northwest China's Shaanxi Province.
Meanwhile, the experts unearthed large number of pottery figures
and utensils as well as bronze mirrors and coins recently.
Located in the Shangzhou District, the 28 tombs line side to
side from the top to the bottom of a five-meter highland. The tombs
are about two to 2.4 meters long, one to 1.5 meter wide and 0.7 to
1.1 meter high.
The bricks of the tomb chamber formed elliptic vaulting on the
top, making the tombs look like headstand boats, which were rare in
shape among the tombs in the period.
The archaeologists found that the earth around these tombs was
pounded and were surprised to see that tomb bricks were carved with
fine patterns of strings of beads and rhombus.
The experts said the tombs belonged to a noble family in the
Tang Dynasty (618-907), judging from the size of the tombs,
building materials and funeral objects.
The discovery is of great significance in studying funeral
rituals cherished by officials and nobilities in the area during
the Tang Dynasty, they said.
(Xinhua News Agency December 12, 2006)