Scientists Discover a Cluster of Han Dynasty Tombs Containing Artifacts Dating Back 2,000 Years This cluster of tombs holds numerous artifacts that may help us gain a deeper understanding of the life, religion, and culture during the Han Dynasty era.
2,000-year-old tomb with remnants of decayed pillars. (Photo: Xinhua)
A team of archaeologists from the Institute of Archaeology under the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences and the Cultural Heritage and Archaeology Institute of Hunan Province reported the discovery of 21 tombs dating back 2,000 years at the Changsha archaeological site in Hunan Province, as reported by Ancient Origins on January 16. The ancient Kingdom of Changsha was established around 203 or 202 BC and was one of the largest and longest-lasting kingdoms during the Han Dynasty.
The team found a total of over 200 artifacts within the 21 tombs. These tombs are situated along a remote mountainside and contain numerous ceramics dating back to the Han Dynasty. Among them, one particular tomb features the remains of five decayed pillars and a coffin shaped like the character “II“.
After studying the 21 similarly dated tombs, the archaeological team concluded that they likely belonged to a royal family buried together in an ancient mausoleum. They classified the tombs into two types: those with passageways and those without. Many of the tombs are located close to each other. On one side of the site, three tombs are aligned consecutively, while on the other side, four tombs are arranged in a row.
Records from the philosopher Wang Chong around 27 – 100 AD describe the burial customs of the Han royal family, including sacrificial offerings at ancestral temples. This explains the large number of burial items discovered in the tombs at Changsha.
| The Han Dynasty was established by Liu Bang over 2,000 years ago and was ruled by the Liu family. This dynasty existed through two periods: Western Han (approximately 202 – 9 BC) and Eastern Han (approximately 25 – 220 AD). Lasting over four centuries, the Han Dynasty is considered a golden period in ancient Chinese history. |
