Rare artefacts found in Hebei

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Archaeologists in Hebei Province have recently been digging up some surprises-- hundreds of rare bronze and ceramic wares, many of them more than a thousand years old. And they say there are more ancient tombs just waiting to be discovered.

The excavation in Ci County of Hebei Province began last August.

8-hundred acres on the country’s southwestern side was tagged as a preservation area. So far, researchers have found 43 ancient tombs, including tombs from the Han, Tang and Song Dynasties. Now 24 of them are under special protection.

Li Jiang, deputy director of Ci County Relic Preservation Office, said,"Most of the tombs are from the Han Dynasty. We’ve seen many funerary items and jewellery. We can infer that these tomb owners were rich landlords a thousand years ago."

The scholars believe the tombs have all been looted at some stage in the past.

But enough treasures have survived and besides delicate bronze wares, scientists have been surprised to find over a hundred ceramic pieces.

These are rarely-seen basins, pots and bowls. There are even some ancient home appliances, like stoves and irons.

Zhao Xuefeng, director of Cizhou Kiln Museum, Ci county, said,"This bronze iron is one of the best pieces we’ve found so far. People pour boiling water in it to heat it up, then use it to iron clothes. It’s well designed and carefully crafted. The handle was made to look like a dragon’s neck. Even the whiskers were carved on the dragon’s head. "

The rest of un-explored tombs will be excavated step by step.

Judging from what’s been found so far, they’re fully expecting to find more surprises underground.

Archaeologists in Hebei Province have recently been digging up some surprises-- hundreds of rare bronze and ceramic wares, many of them more than a thousand years old.

Archaeologists in Hebei Province have recently been digging up some surprises-- hundreds of rare bronze and ceramic wares, many of them more than a thousand years old.

Archaeologists in Hebei Province have recently been digging up some surprises-- hundreds of rare bronze and ceramic wares, many of them more than a thousand years old.

Archaeologists in Hebei Province have recently been digging up some surprises-- hundreds of rare bronze and ceramic wares, many of them more than a thousand years old.

Archaeologists in Hebei Province have recently been digging up some surprises-- hundreds of rare bronze and ceramic wares, many of them more than a thousand years old.

Editor:Qin Xue |Source: CCTV.com