Archaeologists uncovered 25 tombs in  at Longjingshan and Zongzaigang, Guangzhou of Guangdong province, south-eastern China. The burial area contains tombs dated between periods of Shang Dynasty (1600-1046 BC) and Ming Dynasty (1368-1644 AD).

The site is located at in Zengcheng Economic and Technological Development District’s Xintang county. The excavations, which started in September, encompass an area of 6,6 hectare, and are said to finish soon.

The findings include three oldest tombs from Shang Dynasty (1600-1046 BC), one pit tomb from the late Western Han Dynasty (206 BC – 24 AD), 19 brick-chambered tombs from Jin (265-420 AD) and Southern Dynasties (420-589 AD), one pit tomb from Tang Dynasty (618-907 AD) and one tomb from Ming Dynasty (1368-1644 AD).

Among the numerous finds from the tombs are stone tomahawks, a crystal penannular jade ring, a pottery kettle from Shang Dynasty, a copper bowl, a copper washing bowl, pottery from Western Han Dynasty, a so-called chicken-spout pot, dishes, bowls, and small cups from Jin and Southern Dynasties. The stone tomahawks were a kind of sacrificial item during Shang Dynasty and was a symbol of power, which reveals that the tomb owner may have had military power during his lifetime.

This is the said to be the largest tomb cluster from the period of Six Dynasties (220 or 222–589 AD) in Zengcheng district, which shows that a large group of people had lived along Zengjiang River since then.

(after China Daily)