2000-year-old tomb to be opened

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Chinese archeologists are about to open an ancient tomb dating back some two-thousand years in the southern suburb of Xi'an, capital of China's Shaanxi Province.

Archeologists in northwest China's Shaanxi Province are about to open an ancient tomb dating back some two-thousand years in the southern suburb of Xi'an, capital of Shaanxi.

Archeologists in northwest China's Shaanxi Province are about to open an ancient tomb dating back some two-thousand years in the southern suburb of Xi'an, capital of Shaanxi. 

Experts think the tomb belongs to the noble family of Zhang Anshi,a major minister of Western Han dynasty (207BC-AD9).

 

Zhang Zhongli, Deputy Director of Shaanxi Archeological Institute said "There was only one general surnamed Zhang in the closest time range of the Western Han Dynasty. What we've found is the seal carved with Zhang. Also the seal features the sign of the reign title. We're positive that this mausoleum complex belongs to Zhang Anshi."

The tomb is marked as number 13 in the mausoleum complex. So far archeologists are in the final phase of the excavation, cleaning the passage leading to the tomb entrance. When everything is done, maybe tomorrow, the archeologists team will enter the tomb to carefully examine inside.

The tomb that's to be unveiled measures 29 meters in length and 2 meters in width. Experts say this grave, along with 13 other tombs of various sizes, belongs to Zhang Anshi. Unfortunately all of the other 13 have been plundered, except for this one.

Sun Bingjun, an archeologist from Shaanxi Archeological Institute said, "This tomb not being plundered maybe will provide evidence to China's general view of Han Dynasty. "

Although most of the Zhang's mausoleums were raided, still archeologists have found more than 3,000 pieces of cultural relics, including exquisite bronze and ceramics decorations, bronze seals and appliances which represent the high rank of the general, had been unearthed over the past year.

What's hidden inside the number 13 tomb in the complex remains to be seen.

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