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Large
Group of Ancient Tombs Found in Central China City
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????A large group
of tombs dating back more than 2,000 years have been 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 (BC475-BC221) to Western and Eastern Jin Dynasties
(265-420).
????Up to now, 35 of the tombs have been excavated
from the burial ground.
????Zhang Dabing, an associate researcher with
the institute, said that judging from the earth filling and shape
of the tombs, the grave ground contains cultural relics unique
to the southern areas of Chu, one of the vassal states during
Warring States, which are also found in other previously excavated
medium-sized and small tombs belonging to the Warring States,
and reflects the burial customs of Changsha state during Western
Han Dynasty (BC206-24AD).
????"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,"
said Zhang.
????According to Zhang, Changsha State was a
vassal kingdom that had survived for the longest period of time
during the Western Han Dynasty. And cultural ruins here are useful
for studying the history of vassal states during the late years
of Western Han Dynasty.
????A special fund of 400,000 yuan (about US$48,190)
is put in place for protection and rescue excavation of the underground
ancient tombs, said local sources.
????(Xinhua 03/03/2001)
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