Archaeologists in the central China province of Henan have
excavated 336 tombs dating back more than 3,000 years.
Arranged in a U shape, the tombs were unearthed near Hebi City
at the Liuzhuang ruins of the Shang Dynasty (1600-1046 B.C.).
Funeral objects were discovered in 208 of the 336 tombs, including
tomahawks, strings of turquoise stone beads, ancient cooking
vessels and basins.
The most noticeable among these tombs contained a stone coffin,
which was formed by 13 stones. Archaeologists also discovered that
in some of the tombs, stones were put beside the head or feet of
the tomb owner.
Judging from the few funeral objects in each tomb and the shape
and structure of the tombs, archaeologists said that the tombs
belonged to a clan of middle to lower class of their day.
This is the first time that such a great number of Shang tombs
have been unearthed in Henan Province and the discovery provides
valuable evidence for studying the funeral rituals, social
structure, and culture of the Shang Dynasty, said Zhao Xinping, a
research fellow with the Henan Provincial Cultural Heritage and
Archaeological Research Institute.
The discovery of the stone coffin, which had not previously been
seen in central China at that time, provides clues to the origin of
the Shang people, Zhao said.
Located to the south of Liuzhuang Village of Qibin District in
Hebi City, the Liuzhuang ruins covers more than 300,000 sq m. So
far an area of 7,700 sq m. has been excavated.
(Xinhua News Agency February 9, 2006)
