Archaeologists in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region have unearthed about 500 tombs dating back more than 2,200 years in Horinger County and excavated a large number of relics.

The 500 tombs of the Warring States Period (475 BC -221 BC) were excavated at the ruins of the ancient Tuchengzi City from April to December, said Li Qiang, a work staff with the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Regional Institute of Archaeological Research.

Li said that archaeologists found that dead people buried in these tombs lie on their back, some with limbs straight and others with limbs bended. There are also some who lie on their side.

What is noteworthy is that archaeologists found five tombs with many bodies buried randomly together. One of the five tombs is buried with more than 50 bodies.

Experts said that more than 96 percent of the dead people buried in these tombs are men, aged around 25.

They said these people might be crafts men or soldiers when they were alive as some of the bodies are found to be without head or legs, some bodies with noticeable traces of knife wound and arrow heads on chest or head.

Moreover, archaeologists also found a large number of bronze swords and daggers in these tombs.

Li Qiang said the discovery indicates that wars broke out frequently in the area during the Warring States Period.

Covering an area of four kilometers, the ancient Tuchengzi City survived a long period from the Spring and Autumn Period (770 BC - 476 BC), the Warring States Period, Northern Wei (386-534), Sui (581-618), Tang (618-907), Ming (1368-1644) to Qing (1644-1911) dynasties.

Currently, the Tuchengzi City is under state protection.
 
(Xinhua News Agency December 31, 2005)