93 tombs belonging to Warring States Period, Han Dynasty unearthed

Beijing, May 28 (ANI): Archaeologists have discovered 93 tombs ranging from the times of China's Warring States Period to Han Dynasty at the Zhangduo Ruins in Neiqiu of Xingtai, Hebei.

The Warring States period stretches from 475 B.C. to the unification of China under the Qin Dynasty in 221 B.C.

Earlier, two Han Dynasty (206 B.C.-220 A.D.) kiln sites and 104 Warring States period to Han Dynasty tombs were found.

The 93 tombs found in the south of Zhangduo Village are divided into Number One and Two cemeteries.

The Number One Cemetery comprises 42 tombs with 51 tombs in the Number Two Cemetery.

Funerary objects unearthed totalled over 260 pieces, including spade-shaped coins, bronze belt hooks, brass bells, tripods, clay workshops, jars, pots, cups and bowls, reports People's Daily Online.

Tombs of the Warring States period were generally funnel-shaped and rarely belonged to earth-shaft graves.

The burial form of these tombs primarily fell under the unique burial customs of the Qin people with the skeletons of the dead maintaining the fetal position.

Objects buried with the dead were few with only a small number of clay tripods, jars, stemmed bowls and plates found in certain graves.

During the western Han period, there were two types of tombs: earth-shaft graves and brick-chambered graves.

Funerary utensils were generally similar to that of the Warring States period, but had some changes.

For example, the graves were surrounded by a wall of bricks and covered by wooden boards to replace previous wooden chambers.

In the earth-shaft graves, funerary objects were more plentiful than that of the Warring States period.

The objects were mainly jars and there were also cups and pots in some graves, generally placed in front of the grave occupant's head.

In the brick-chambered graves, funerary objects were generally consisted of tripods, pots, boxes and jars. Some graves also contained figurines and basins in certain graves.

The Archaeological Team for the South-to-North Water Diversion Project under Xingtai Municipal Cultural Relics Management Office initiated the excavation at the Number Two site last year and unearthed two Han Dynasty kiln sites and 104 Warring States period-Han Dynasty tombs. (ANI)