A family grave site dating back to more than 350 years ago was unearthed in Dali County in Shaanxi Province, northwest China.

Archeologists were excavating five stone tombs on the site, when they unearthed the entire graveyard that entombed members of the well-established Li family.

Covering about 20 ha (49.4 acres)in area, the graveyard was used by the Li family from the late Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) to the end of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), according to archeologists.

Although the five stone tombs, for a local official Li Tianpei and his wives, had been robbed, archeologists still discovered many fine articles made of gold, jade, copper, glass, pearl, animal bones and porcelain and over 400 stone carvings.

The discovery of the site will supply materials for research about politics, economy and society in the Qing Dynasty, the experts said.

(Xinhua News Agency 07/14/2001)