No one can say precisely how many rare discoveries were destroyed in the course of industrial activity, farming, or archeological excavations, but the recent backfill of horses and carriages buried together with members of the imperial family in Central China is definitely an encouraging sign.
Local archeologists recently returned rare findings, including carriages and horses, to their original sites to ensure better protection.
In 2002, local residents in Luoyang City, Henan Province, in the midst of plans to build a town square, stumbled upon a large number of imperial tombs. Luoyang, which served as the imperial capital for at least nine ancient dynasties, is rich in cultural relics.
Local archeologists uncovered over 600 ancient tombs and 29 sites containing horses, carriages and imperial family members.
The experts opened 208 of the tombs and 17 of the carriage and horse pits, occupying 16,000 square meters. The origin of the tombs was traced to the Eastern Zhou Dynasty (770-256 BC).
Several months after the excavation, local archeologists and experts from the State Cultural Relics Administration concluded that they were facing difficulties in ensuring the preservation of the carriages and horses.
The experts decided to return the findings to their original sites, leaving them for future study. With the exception of a six-horse carriage, all of the findings have been returned.
Prior to their return, the objects were sterilized, and the backfill was conducted carefully, using fine sand and soil.
It is the first time in China that such an operation has been carried out, according to the experts.
The six horse carriage, unearthed from one of the pits, confirms an ancient regulation stipulating that only emperors were allowed to ride in carriages pulled by six horses, according to the experts.
The carriage will be put on exhibition at the original site. In the same pit, there were 26 carriages, 53 horses and seven dogs.
(Xinhua News Agency June 6, 2003)
