A complex of ancient tombs dating from the Warring States period (475-221 BC) to the Eastern Han Dynasty (25-220 AD) has been discovered in Tahe, Henan Province, central China.
At this ancient Chinese tomb complex, archaeologists have collected more than 1,000 artifacts, including bronze, ceramic, iron and many other artifacts.
According to the Global Times, the ancient tombs, located in a western district of Tahe, were discovered in September during the construction of a railway. Archaeological excavations conducted by the Henan Provincial Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology in coordination with local authorities have uncovered more than 200 tombs at the site.
Liu Chen, a researcher at the Tower of Heaven Museum, noted that the ancient tomb complex was densely distributed and used for about 400 years, from the Warring States period to the Eastern Han Dynasty.
Among the discovered artifacts, a bronze sword has attracted special attention because the blade is still sharp after more than 2,000 years. The bronze sword is 48 cm long, 4 cm wide and 0.2 cm thick.
Other artifacts include a finely crafted piece of jade from the Warring States period and many other artifacts from the Han Dynasty (206 BC - AD 220) such as bronze mirrors, coins and pottery.
“A large number of Warring States period ceramics, including vases, figurines and plates, have been discovered. However, due to the low firing temperature and poor quality of clay at that time, these objects are prone to breakage when excavated directly from the tombs,” said Cui Xinzhan, a researcher at the Henan Provincial Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology.
Chinese archaeologists have previously discovered significant remains in the area surrounding this large cluster of ancient tombs, including Warring States-era city walls, roads, foundations of large buildings, a Han Dynasty mint, and a pottery workshop. Experts now speculate that the newly discovered ancient tomb complex may be related to these sites.
Researcher Liu Chen stressed that this discovery reflects the considerable scale of Thap Ha during the Warring States and Han dynasties. The area was an important political, economic and cultural center at that time.
