Archaeologists uncover ancient royal tomb in Chinese province

Chinese archaeologists have made a groundbreaking discovery in the Henan province, unearthing a tomb believed to be around 5,000 years old, potentially belonging to a prehistoric king.

Located in Wangzhuang village, Yongcheng city, Henan province, this burial site has been yielding remarkable discoveries since late 2021, Caliber.Az reports, citing foreign media.

According to state news agency Xinhua, the newly unearthed tomb, designated M27, is classified as "extra-large," spanning over 17 square meters (183 sq ft) and containing both internal and external coffins. The excavation revealed a treasure trove of artifacts, including more than 100 pottery pieces, nearly 200 small jade ornaments, bone tools, and animal remains like pig mandibles, which are considered symbols of wealth.

Zhu Guanghua, an associate professor at Capital Normal University’s School of History and a participant in the excavation, remarked that this discovery suggests that the Wangzhuang site was not merely a settlement but likely the capital of a prehistoric kingdom. The ancient burial complex is estimated to cover approximately 120,000 square metres (12 hectares), stretching 400 metres (1,312 ft) north to south and 300 metres (984 ft) east to west.

The initial tomb was uncovered by villagers renovating the ponds in Wangzhuang, leading to the discovery of various jade rings, pendants, discs, turquoise ornaments, bone arrowheads, and pottery. Researchers from various institutions, including the Henan Provincial Institute of Cultural Heritage and Archaeology, Capital Normal University in Beijing, and the Institute of Archaeology of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, have been collaborating on excavations since February of last year. 

So far this year, 45 tombs have been identified at the site, with 27 excavated, revealing a wealth of artifacts. Liu Haiwang, the leader of the archaeological team, explained to Xinhua that the abundance of burial items correlates with the size of the tombs, indicating a well-established social hierarchy and class stratification. He noted that the intricate pottery, stone tools, and jade artifacts "clearly illustrate the division of labour and productivity levels of that era." 

The tombs at the Wangzhuang site date back to the mid-to-late Neolithic Dawenkou Culture, which thrived in central China, including regions like Shandong, Anhui, Henan, and Jiangsu, from approximately 4300 to 2500 BC. According to Zhu, the variety and styles of the artifacts suggest that the Wangzhuang site was a crossroads for the convergence of eastern and western cultures in China. 

In March, China’s National Cultural Heritage Administration named Wangzhuang one of the country’s "top 10 new archaeological discoveries of 2023." Additionally, in mid-April, archaeologists announced the discovery of a massive 2,200-year-old tomb from the Warring States Period, the largest and "highest-level" tomb of its kind from the state of Chu. Researchers believe this tomb may have belonged to King Kaolie, who ruled the state of Chu for over two decades, from 262 BC to 238 BC.

By Naila Huseynova