Archaeologists dig under Chinese zoo to find 150 ancient graves dating back 2,100 year
Approximately 1300 square metres (14000 square feet) of the site contained nearly 200 items of pottery and porcelain, bronze, jade, and bead decorations.
A startling surprise has emerged from a Chinese zoo in the Guangdong province in southeast China. Archaeologists have discovered about 150 tombs from a variety of historical periods at the zoo. The tombs, which span more than 2,100 years of history, were found between April and July 2024, according to China’s Xinhua News Agency.
The Ming and Qing Dynasties, which ruled China from 1368 AD to 1911 AD, have the most tombs, totalling 120. Eight tombs are from the Jin and Southern Dynasties (265-589 AD), while four are from the Han Dynasty (206 BC and 220 AD). Of the interments, fifteen belonged to the Tang Dynasty (618–907).
Part of the discovery also includes tombs dating back to the early history of modern-day China. According to researchers, 48 tombs date from the Republic of China era (1912-1949).
With the discovery of a largely entire Eastern Jin Dynasty tomb and a well-preserved Southern Dynasty tomb, researchers are hoping to get greater insight into the building technologies of these periods. The practices used to determine tomb shapes, phases, and death procedures throughout the Six Dynasties period in Guangzhou are equally intriguing.
Insights into Different Dynasties
Tombs from the Ming and Qing dynasties demonstrate the burial site’s meticulous organisation. The consistent spacing patterns between graves shed light on how the cemetery was planned.
Unveiling History: The Dense Distribution of Newly Found Graves at Chinese Zoo
Burial sites and tombs are a treasure trove of information, providing more insights about how a specific society functioned. Approximately 1300 square metres (14000 square feet) of the site was discovered to be sheltering nearly 200 items of pottery and porcelain, bronze, jade, and bead decorations.
The finding of these relics can provide light on how China’s civilisations evolved throughout time in terms of social, economic, political, and ideological aspects because the tombs date from different periods in the country’s history. The zoo has long piqued people’s interest, and various excavations have taken place since its establishment in 1956. To far, about 500 ancient tombs have been discovered at the site, spread across over 30 localities.
One such excavation unearthed one of the largest and best-preserved tombs from the Eastern Jin Dynasty (317-420 AD). The tomb is nearly intact and 10 metres long. Another tomb from the Southern Dynasties tomb has sparked curiosity since it served as a combined burial for an unidentified married couple. However, the newly discovered graves are “very densely distributed,” setting them apart from earlier excavations.
You might also be interested in – Archaeologists Discover ‘Marge Simpson’ Lookalike on Ancient Egyptian coffin
