Since ancient times, the Chinese have placed great importance on burial rituals for the deceased. They believed in the concept of “entering the earth in peace,” meaning that only when family members are carefully buried can the living enjoy a smooth and prosperous life.
As a result, the study of ancient tombs has become an incredibly important field in archaeology. Each tomb not only carries deep historical and cultural significance from the period it was built but also reflects the status, power, and attitudes of the era towards the deceased.
The Burial Site of the Grandmother of Qin Shi Huang
In 2004, Chinese scientists discovered a remarkable tomb – the tomb of the grandmother of Qin Shi Huang. This tomb revealed many fascinating details about Chinese history before the time when Qin Shi Huang unified China.
An archaeologist working in the excavation area. (Source: Internet).
Before being discovered by archaeologists, the tomb had been visited by thieves multiple times. Even the blackened bricks within the mausoleum revealed that the tomb had been damaged by fire. The mausoleum spans an area of 160,000 square meters, containing four main tombs and 13 burial pits.
Although it is now a pile of ruins, archaeologists could still infer from the remaining traces that the owner of the mausoleum was indeed the grandmother of Qin Shi Huang – Empress Dowager Hxia (?-240 BCE).
On the stone stele within the tomb, the characters “Bei Gong” and “Si Gong” can be recognized, and combined with records from the “Records of the Grand Historian: The Biography of Lü Buwei”, there is no doubt that this is the resting place of the grandmother of Qin Shi Huang.
Although Empress Dowager Hxia is not a prominent figure in Chinese history, her status as the grandmother of Qin Shi Huang attracted considerable public attention upon the discovery of her tomb.
During the excavation process, experts uncovered more than 300 remnants of valuable cultural artifacts, particularly six chariots. Such a formation of six luxurious chariots was exclusively reserved for royalty at the time.
The “Previously Unknown” Species
Notably, archaeologists also unearthed a significant number of animal remains from burial pit number 12. A large quantity of bird bones was buried in the northern section, while the southern section contained remains of bears, leopards, and lynxes…
Moreover, experts discovered a set of remains from a remarkably strange primate species. Although discovered in 2004, it wasn’t until 2018 that scientists reached a conclusion regarding these remains.
Pit number 12 where many animal remains were found. (Source: HSW).
Researchers created a 3D model of the remains and spent over a decade comparing them with hundreds of existing ape skeletons around the world. Eventually, experts declared that this is a new species of ape that has never been known before, although it is now extinct.
3D hypothetical model of the “noble ape”. (Source: Sohu).
Several hypotheses have emerged regarding the origin of these remains, including one that suggests that over 2,200 years ago, ancient Chinese emperors had a habit of keeping apes as a form of amusement. And it is highly likely that this was also the reason for the extinction of this ape species before we even knew about it!
This discovery has sent shockwaves through the archaeological community worldwide, as it is extremely rare for animals to be buried alongside the deceased in ancient Chinese royal tombs.
Additionally, these remains have become a focal point for biologists, providing valuable data for research into the evolutionary history of apes. To honor the role of this ape species, scientists have given it an illustrious name – the “noble ape.”
