Chinese archaeologists have conducted excavation on a total of 415 ancient tombs dating back to the dynasties of the Han (206 BC-220 AD), Tang (618-906), Song (960-1279) and Qing (1644-1911) in central China's Henan Province.

The tombs were found in the northeastern suburbs of Sanmenxia City. There are 196 tombs from the Han Dynasty, 66 from the Tang Dynasty, 10 from the Song Dynasty and 145 from the Qing Dynasty.

 

The archaeologists have unearthed some 1,421 pieces of historical relics from the tombs.

 

Most items of unearthed relics from the Han tombs are earthenware, bronze and iron articles such as coins, mirror, knife, sword, pot, cup and a variety of cooking vessels. According to epitaph, the owners of the Han tombs, aged from 40 to 50 years old, shared high social rank in the time.

 

In the Tang and Song tombs, archaeologists found abundant articles of pottery, china, bronze, silver, stone, tin and shell, such as china pot, bronze mirror, silver hairpin and coins.

 

In the Qing tombs, unearthed items include china jars, iron lamps and bronze coins.

 

The cultural relics will provide valuable clues for study on tomb structure and funeral customs of the dynasties in central China area.

 

(Xinhua News Agency April 16, 2006)