2,000-year-old rock engravings discovered in Tibetan region

Rock engravings over 2,000 years old, depicting animals, human figures, nature and constellations, have been found in a Tibetan prefecture in northwest China's Qinghai Province.

Credit: Xinhua/Tian Wenjie

The government of Chindu County, Yushu Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, confirmed on Wednesday that 609 rock engravings have been discovered.

Wei Jian, deputy director of Chinese Society of Rock Painting, said that the engravings were created over a wide time span with the oldest dating back 2,000 years.

Credit: Xinhua/Tian Wenjie

Villagers discovered the engravings on May 5, and immediately reported the finding to the local authorities.

Wei said one of the engravings is of a human figure waving something like a flag with left hand, and using the right hand in gesture like a salute.

Credit: Xinhua/Tian Wenjie

The county is located near the source of the Yangtze River. Rock engravings by ancient Qiang people during a period from 1,000 B.C. to the late Tang Dynasty (618-907) have been found in neighbouring areas. The engravings depict various activities, including hunting, herding, sexual intercourse and sacrifices.

Source: XinhuaNet [June 02, 2018]