Tombs of the Eastern Han Dynasty discovered in China's Sichuan

Four brick tombs from the Eastern Han Dynasty (25-220) were discovered in Chenghua District of Chengdu, capital of southwest China's Sichuan Province, in October this year, according to the Chengdu cultural relics and archaeology research institute.

Credit: Xinhua/Liu Kun

Tang Bin, the on-site archaeological excavation leader, said the Chengdu Cultural Relics and Archaeology Institute began the rescue excavation of the Han tombs on October 13 after they were discovered during the construction of a municipal road on the east bank of the Shahe River.

Archaeologists working at the site reported that the tombs are all facing west, in a uniform parallel arrangement. All four tombs had been plundered in the past.

Credit: Xinhua/Liu Kun

Only one (Tomb M3) of the four tombs was relatively well preserved. It has a total length of about 14 metres and is made of rectangular solid patterned bricks.

Tang Bin, said the items found in Tomb M3 include earthenware, ceramic figurines and iron swords, as well as an earthen pedestal of a 'money tree'.

Credit: Xinhua/Liu Kun

A stack of bronze coins were all that were left of the money tree, whose main body had been stolen together with the remains of the tomb owners.

"The discovery provides valuable material for the study of Eastern Han tombs as well as the funeral rituals and customs of the period," Tang said.

Source: Xinhua [November 21, 2018]