Mausoleum reveals more mysteries
Source: Xinhua |
June 13, 2010, Sunday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
CHINESE archeologists are puzzling over the mysteries revealed in a live television broadcast of the excavation of an ancient general's tomb in Henan Province.
The three-hour live broadcast by China Central Television began at 9am yesterday at the site believed to be the Mausoleum of General Cao Cao, a legendary warlord of the Three Kingdoms period (AD 220-280).
The tomb is near the Yellow River and in Xigaoxue Village, Anyang, where Cao Cao ruled the Kingdom of Wei from 220 to 265, when he died at the age of 65. The Henan Provincial Cultural Heritage Bureau announced the discovery of the tomb in December 2009, triggering nationwide interest in the ancient statesman, whose exploits were immortalized in the 14th century novel "Romance of the Three Kingdoms."
An excavation undertaken by the Chinese Academy of Cultural Heritage uncovered the layout of the mausoleum.
It comprises two pits covering 8,934 square meters.
In the No. 2 pit were a male skull, two female skulls and more than 250 relics. The male skull suggested the man was over 60, and the females about 20 and 50, but archeologists have not reached a conclusion on their identities.
Although the excavation of the mausoleum is almost complete, archeologists were still puzzled by the purpose of the No. 1 pit, which was found to contain only an iron sword.
"The tomb was built at the same period as the main tomb, and the two are only 30 meters apart. The No. 1 pit is smaller and less decorated, which suggests it is a satellite tomb," said Pan Weibin, a chief researcher with the provincial bureau.
Some say the tomb had been occupied by Cao Ang, eldest son of Cao Cao, who died before his father.
Liu Qingzhu, member of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, said the function of the satellite tomb was still a mystery.
During the broadcast, a ninth stone stele, or stone slab, engraved with characters showing the name of a weapon used by the general from the No. 2 tomb was unearthed.
However, the stele's upper part was missing. "The missing fragment should carry the engraved characters of Weiwuwang, or the King Wu of Wei, like the eight other steles. However, all of the steles and stone carvings with the king's name have suffered human damage," said Liu.
He said the severity of destruction surprised archeologists.
Besides the damage to items with the king's name, the male skull discovered in the main chamber indicated that the body had been dragged out the coffin and the face smashed.
The three-hour live broadcast by China Central Television began at 9am yesterday at the site believed to be the Mausoleum of General Cao Cao, a legendary warlord of the Three Kingdoms period (AD 220-280).
The tomb is near the Yellow River and in Xigaoxue Village, Anyang, where Cao Cao ruled the Kingdom of Wei from 220 to 265, when he died at the age of 65. The Henan Provincial Cultural Heritage Bureau announced the discovery of the tomb in December 2009, triggering nationwide interest in the ancient statesman, whose exploits were immortalized in the 14th century novel "Romance of the Three Kingdoms."
An excavation undertaken by the Chinese Academy of Cultural Heritage uncovered the layout of the mausoleum.
It comprises two pits covering 8,934 square meters.
In the No. 2 pit were a male skull, two female skulls and more than 250 relics. The male skull suggested the man was over 60, and the females about 20 and 50, but archeologists have not reached a conclusion on their identities.
Although the excavation of the mausoleum is almost complete, archeologists were still puzzled by the purpose of the No. 1 pit, which was found to contain only an iron sword.
"The tomb was built at the same period as the main tomb, and the two are only 30 meters apart. The No. 1 pit is smaller and less decorated, which suggests it is a satellite tomb," said Pan Weibin, a chief researcher with the provincial bureau.
Some say the tomb had been occupied by Cao Ang, eldest son of Cao Cao, who died before his father.
Liu Qingzhu, member of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, said the function of the satellite tomb was still a mystery.
During the broadcast, a ninth stone stele, or stone slab, engraved with characters showing the name of a weapon used by the general from the No. 2 tomb was unearthed.
However, the stele's upper part was missing. "The missing fragment should carry the engraved characters of Weiwuwang, or the King Wu of Wei, like the eight other steles. However, all of the steles and stone carvings with the king's name have suffered human damage," said Liu.
He said the severity of destruction surprised archeologists.
Besides the damage to items with the king's name, the male skull discovered in the main chamber indicated that the body had been dragged out the coffin and the face smashed.
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