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The Mysterious
Han Tomb at Laoshan Hill
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????This
tomb is the third most significant discovery of its kind in the
history of archaeology in Beijing following the discoveries of the
Ming Tombs, the underground palace of the Dingling tomb, and the
Han tomb at Dabaotai.
???? The ancient tomb is located in the Laoshan Hill area, 10 km west
of downtown Beijing. The gate of the tomb is 24.5 to 26 meters long
from south to north and 22 to 23.5 meters wide from east to west.
The passage of the tomb is 24 meters long. So far, the "Huangchang
Ticou", a rectangular iron tool, and the remains of two other passages
used during the construction of the tomb have been found there.
"Huangchang Ticou" is a special arrangement in a royal tomb for
chaining cypress timbers so that they face in a particular direction.
It demonstrates the level of metallurgy during the Han Dynasty,
and its use symbolizes the special status of the tomb occupant.
For this reason, cultural relic specialists assert that it was a
Han royal tomb.
???? The Laoshan Han tomb is the most important archaeological discovery
in the past 30 years in the Beijing area. Excavations are still
under way.
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