1,800-Year-Old Tombs Excavated in Eastern China

An ancient family in eastern China constructed three underground tombs, filled them with treasure and laid their loved ones to rest. Century after century wore on the burials. Thieves broke in. Eventually, the site was forgotten.

But not anymore.

Archaeologists in Rizhao city dug up a partially damaged mound ahead of the expansion of a nearby park, the Insтιтute of Archaeology at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences said in a May 11 news release shared via the China Archaeology Network.

Underneath, archaeologists found three tombs from the Han dynasty, a period that, according to Britannica, lasted from 206 B.C. to 220 A.D.

Uncover more archaeological finds

What are we learning about the past? Here are three of our most eye-catching archaeology stories from the past week.

The 1,800-year-old tombs were similar in style, with two burials in each and sloping tomb pᴀssageways to the entrances, the insтιтute said. Inscriptions in two of the tombs had the same surname, Huan, indicating the complex likely belonged to a family.

Two of the ancient tombs had been robbed, archaeologists said. The wooden coffins were left in the graves but very few artifacts remained.

The third ancient tomb, however, was well-preserved and relatively untouched, the insтιтute said. A pH๏τo shows this tomb, known as M3.

The main burial chamber of the M3 tomb had two rooms connected with miniature windows and doors. A pH๏τo shows these unique wooden windows. Archaeologists said the residential style suggested the tomb contained a husband and wife.

Archaeologists also found over 70 artifacts inside the tomb. PH๏τos show some of these treasures, including an iron sword, bronze mirrors and stacks of several different types of pottery.

Around one of the wooden coffins, archaeologists uncovered the remains of a coffin carriage, a structure used to transport the coffin into the tomb, the insтιтute said. They described it as exquisitely crafted and an uncommon find.

Archaeologists described the 1,800-year-old family tombs as a significant and important discovery. Finding the same last name inscribed in several tombs is rare, the insтιтute said.

The excavation in Rizhao started last December and ended in January. Rizhao, sometimes translated as Jihchao, is a city in Shandong province along the eastern coast of China, a roughly 400-mile drive southeast from Beijing.