Chinese archaeologists have found over 1,470 ancient tombs dating back over 2,000 years near Zhengzhou, capital of central China's Henan Province.
More than 100 pieces of bronzeware and over 3,000 pieces of earthenware have been found in the tombs which were uncovered during work to build the Zhengzhou High-Technology Development Zone in the last two years.
The bronzewares include three-legged tripods and four-legged cauldrons, deep circular vessels with two or four handles, used as containers for grain, and cups used for drinking or warming wine.
Over 70 of the tombs belonged to aristocrats of the Western Zhou Dynasty (1046 B.C.- 771 B.C.), about 700 tombs date from the Eastern Zhou Dynasty (770 B.C.- 256 B.C.) and over 700 tombs date from the Warring States Period (475 B.C.- 221 B.C.).
According to the archeologists, the presence of so many tombs from these dynasties in the Zhengzhou area is remarkable, as Zhengzhou is famous for its Shang Dynasty (16th century B.C.-11th century B.C.) culture.
In the Waliu Ruins in the development zone alone, over 700 tombs dating from the Warring States Period have been discovered. Most of them are small, with the largest being 3.5 meters long and 2.3 meters wide.
A large group of tombs dating back more than 2,000 years were found at a construction site of a gym in downtown Changsha, capital of central China's Hunan Province
Experts from Hunan Provincial Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology estimate that the ancient tombs cover an area of 13.8 hectares and the tombs must have been constructed from Warring States (475 B.C.-221 B.C.) to Western and Eastern Jin Dynasties (265 A.D.-420 A.D.).
Up to now, 35 of the tombs have been excavated from the burial ground.
Excavating the grave ground is of great significance in studying folkways, protocol and burial customs of Changsha State during the Warring States and the Han Dynasty.
(Xinhua News Agency November 23,2001)
