A total of 249 ancient tombs together with more than 500 antiques, dating back to 2,000 years ago, have been recently excavated under a middle school construction site in Handan, north China's Hebei Province, according to a local official.

Hao Liangzhen, vice director of the Handan cultural heritage bureau, said Friday most of the unearthed tombs were from the Han Dynasty (206 BC-220 AD), while others were from the Warring States Period (475-221 BC) and the Jin Dynasty (265 - 420).

The tombs were buried only about one meter under the ground level.

The antiques in the tombs include pottery, copperware, ironware, carnelian, colored glaze, and utensils made of bones.

(Xinhua News Agency July 11, 2005)