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A large number of gold cakes were unearthed from the Haihunhou tomb. [Photo/Chinanews.com] |
The excavation of the Haihunhou (Marquis of Haihun) tomb in Jiangxi province has come to anend, with several new discoveries announced during a press conference on Sunday.
The press conference was held by the Jiangxi Provincial Propaganda Department, Jiangxi'sDepartment of Culture and Jiangxi's Cultural Relics Bureau.
The Haihunhou tomb is the most well-preserved Western Han Dynasty (206 BC-AD 24)cemetery, with the most integrate structure, distinct layout and complete sacrificial system.
After five years of excavation, over 10,000 pieces of precious relics were unearthed, includingbronze wares, gold and silver wares, jade wares, bamboo slips and inscribed wooden tablets.
"Archeologists and cultural relic conservation experts are cleaning the sludge having beencovered for over 2,000 years, to achieve more historical information. They are also restoring thebroken ceramics and bronze wares to showcase to the public", Chi Hong, the head of Jiangxi'sDepartment of Culture said.
The main coffin of Liu He has been cleaned
As Chi Hong revealed, the body remains of the tomb owner Liu He can vaguely be seen in theinner coffin, with gilded lacquer boxes buried with the dead. Beside the body, from the head tothe belly of the remains, a jade pillow, jade pendant, jade sword and other jade items can beseen, as well as a jade seal with the name "Liu He" at the waist.
The remains of Liu He are on a gilded glass mat, with teeth still intact and 100 pieces of goldcakes under the glass mat.
So far, the number of gold wares unearthed from the Haihunhou tomb has reached 478, thelargest in China's archeological history. By technological analysis of X-Ray imaging, delicateagate beads, gilded bronze boxes and jade-decorated bronze plaques were also discovered inthe remaining lacquer boxes in the coffin.
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The excavation site of the Haihunhou tomb [Photo/Chinanews.com] |
Over 5,000 bamboo slips are taken out
After arduous work, archeologists have successfully stripped more than 5,000 bamboo slips, andthrough infrared scanning, the dimmed handwriting is becoming clear. By initial interpretation,contents from ancient books such as The Analects of Confucius, The Book of Changes, TheBook of Rites, and Medical Book can be seen on the bamboo slips.
Chi Hong said that the bamboo scripts will be further solidified, cleaned and scanned, and thepreliminary protection and data extraction work will be finished before the end of 2016. Furtherinterpretation and research will start next year.
Marquis Haihun was the title given to Liu He (92 BC-59 BC) after he was dethroned. Liu's reignlasted only 27 days, the shortest among Western Han monarchs. He lost his throne because ofhis debauchery and licentious lifestyle.
Nevertheless, he was allowed to reside near Boyang Lake and the title of marquis remained withhis family for three generations.
