Chinese archaeologists discovered 28 boat-shaped tombs dating back more than 1,300 years in Shangluo City, northwest China's Shaanxi Province.

Meanwhile, the experts unearthed large number of pottery figures and utensils as well as bronze mirrors and coins recently.

Located in the Shangzhou District, the 28 tombs line side to side from the top to the bottom of a five-meter highland. The tombs are about two to 2.4 meters long, one to 1.5 meter wide and 0.7 to 1.1 meter high.

The bricks of the tomb chamber formed elliptic vaulting on the top, making the tombs look like headstand boats, which were rare in shape among the tombs in the period.

The archaeologists found that the earth around these tombs was pounded and were surprised to see that tomb bricks were carved with fine patterns of strings of beads and rhombus.

The experts said the tombs belonged to a noble family in the Tang Dynasty (618-907), judging from the size of the tombs, building materials and funeral objects.

The discovery is of great significance in studying funeral rituals cherished by officials and nobilities in the area during the Tang Dynasty, they said.

(Xinhua News Agency December 12, 2006)