Cluster of ancient Han tombs found in E. China

NANJING, June 14 -- Archaeologists have discovered more than 100 Eastern Han Dynasty(24-220 AD) tombs in east China's Jiangsu Province.

The graves in Pizhou City are mostly two meters long and a meter wide, They lie under alarge pool and were found when the pool was drained, Ma Yongqiang, a researcher withthe Institute of Archaeology of Nanjing Museum told Xinhua on Saturday.

Such a large cluster of Han tombs are a rare discovery and valuable for studies on funeralcustoms of the time. The tombs were buried only 20 to 30 centimeters beneath the earthand about two dozens have been plundered.

The pool's contractor has asked for 1.5 million yuan (about 240,000 U.S. dollars) from thearchaeologists before allowing them to unearth the tombs, but only 100,000 yuan isavailable. The city's cultural bureau are watching the site and negotiating with the contract.

After on-site surveys and reasoning, the experts from the Sichuan Institute of Archaeology identified Da Pingzi ancient tomb group found in Zhaohua, southwest China’s Sichuan province in last December as one of the most important tomb groups in Han Dynasty (206 B.C.-220 A.D.).

The remains of Tukang wooden coffin and relics unearthed confirm the blend of middle plains culture with local Bashu culture.

At present, the archaeologists are still carrying out the archaeological dig at the site.

 Source: English.people.com.cn