Chinese Archaeologists Announce Discovery of a 2,500-Year-Old Tomb in Xiangfen County, Shanxi Province.
According to a report from the Shanxi Archaeological Institute on June 7, the tomb, measuring 6.5 meters long, 5.4 meters wide, and 9.8 meters deep, was excavated at the North Taosi Cemetery. It dates back to the late Spring and Autumn period (770 BC – 476 BC).
Tomb containing the remains of a pregnant woman in Shanxi. (Photo: CNS)
At the center of the ancient tomb was a decayed wooden coffin, which held the remains of a woman over 30 years old, with the skull of a fetus visible in her abdomen. The fetus is estimated to be around 8 months old.
The excavation team leader, Wang Jingyan, stated that the tomb was constructed of stone, featuring a symbol that clearly reveals the identity of its owner. It belonged to the wife of the noble Shi Da Fu, a high-ranking official of that time.
Some artifacts excavated from the tomb. (Photo: CNS)
In addition to the coffin containing the remains, archaeologists also discovered 134 artifacts within the tomb, most of which were made of bronze, along with some items made of lead tin, jade, bone, and ceramics.
The North Taosi Cemetery is located north of Taosi Village in Xiangfen County, Shanxi Province, China. In 2014 and 2015, 1,283 other tombs were excavated in this area.
