A cluster of 48 ancient graves, dating from the Western Han dynasty (206 BC - AD 24) to the Qing dynasty (1644 - 1911), was found at the site of the future Wukesong Cultural and Sports Center, in a residential/commercial area about 20 kilometers west of Tian'anmen Square. The center is one of the sites for the 2008 Summer Olympic Games, said Zhu Zhigang, an official with the Beijing Academy of Cultural Relics Studies.

Excavation of the tombs began early last month.

"We have uncovered eight graves built in the Western and Eastern Han dynasties (AD 25 - 220), three from the Liao and Jin periods (916 - 1234), and 37 graves from the Ming and Qing dynasties (1368 - 1911)," said Zhu, who is heading the excavation team.

Nearly 200 artifacts, including earthenware, porcelain and jade, have been found.

According to the Law on Cultural Relics Protection, archeological investigation and excavation must be completed before a massive construction project can be carried out.

The Wukesong Cultural and Sports Center, located in the Wukesong section of Haidian District, is a major venue for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. Construction is scheduled to begin in June this year.

Zhu said the dig, covering an area of around 20,000 square meters, is just the first step in retrieving the artifacts buried at the site.

"We plan to carry out at least two such excavations in the order of the planned construction phases," said Zhu.

Qi Xin, president of the Beijing Archeological Studies Association, said the graves, which come from periods of history spanning more than 2,000 years, are very important in the study of funeral customs of the Han, Liao, Jin, Ming and Qing dynasties.

The funerary articles unearthed from the Han dynasty graves are of superb variety and very well preserved, said Qi. She believes that the people buried there were of relatively high social status.

Qi said several tombs of the Ming and Qing dynasties have been found scattered about the Wukesong area in the past. "But the discovery of graves in group of the two Han dynasties is very rare, especially in such a location in the capital city," she noted.

She said that as more major Olympic venues are built around Beijing in the next few years, archeologists will enjoy unprecedented opportunities for additional finds. They will also face the challenges of salvaging relics within the 3,000-year-old city.

"I'm very glad to see the construction sector can team up with the cultural heritage protection departments to preserve these ancient treasures. They are common wealth of all human beings," said Qi.

The Beijing Cultural Relics Bureau and the Beijing Construction Command of the Olympic Venues have jointly issued a notice declaring that archeological investigations must be carried out before gymnasiums and stadiums can be built.

(China Daily May 21, 2004)