Chinese archaeologists have discovered an elaborately-made
sword, which they believe is 2,500 to 2,600 years old, in an
ancient tomb in the eastern province of Jiangxi.
"It is reckoned as the oldest ever excavated in the country,"
said Xu Changqing, chief of the excavation team.
The well-preserved sword, some 50 centimeters long, is black,
gold and bright red. "A dragon pattern was carved on both ends of
the scabbard, and the middle part of the scabbard was decorated
with two rows of a W-shaped design," said Xu.
"First Sword under
Heaven"
Xu? and his colleagues have dubbed it the "First Sword
under Heaven" in keeping with other two heritage pieces called
"First Mat under Heaven" and "First Fan under Heaven", both of
which were unearthed from the same tomb.
Since the start of excavation work last January, at least 1,000
relics have been found in the ancient tomb, which was built in the
late Spring and Autumn Period (770-476 B.C.). The findings include
47 coffins.
The archaeologists are studying the valuable artifacts in hopes
of discovering who was buried there and what the relics reveal
about the funerary culture of the period.
?
"First Fan under
Heaven"
"First Mat under
Heaven"
(Xinhua News Agency January 17, 2008)
