Archaeologists have dug out 400 cultural artifacts from a maze
of 28 ancient tombs unearthed during the construction of the
south-to-north water diversion project.
The local archaeological institute started excavating the
700,000 sq m graveyard near Dasima Village in Weihui City, in
central China's Henan province, last June.
After 10 months of excavation, archaeologists have unearthed 28
tombs that date back to the Han (206 BC to 220), Western Jin (265
to 316), Tang (618 to 907), Song (960 to 1279), Ming (1368 to 1644)
and Qing (1644 to1911) dynasties.
The tombs contain large quantities of bronze, stone, iron, bone,
pearl, gold and ceramic wares, terracotta warrior-shaped figures
and ancient coins, according to the archaeologists.
The south-to-north water diversion project, which runs across
eight provinces and regions, has given Chinese archaeologists
unprecedented opportunities to discover old treasures, the expert
added.
The findings will help us study the production of ancient
villages and townships as well as their customs, cultural
traditions, protocols and burial rites, experts said.
The water diversion project consists of three canals, each
running more than 1,200 kilometers across the eastern, central and
western parts of the country.
The eastern and central routes of the scheme will require the
protection of more than 700 major cultural heritage sites, with a
planned excavation area surpassing 1.6 million square meters.
Last November, the Chinese government decided to allocate 50
million yuan (6.2 million U.S. dollars) for the preservation of 45
major cultural heritage sites along the two routes.
Archaeologists in Henan have excavated more than 100 ruins in
the area affected by the project and will finish the work before an
underground canal is dug near the sites.
(China Daily April 13, 2007)