Four important archaeological discoveries on the Silk Road in China announced yesterday:
1) In Qinghai, a royal tomb from the Tibetan Empire, circa 700, excavated Sept. 2018 to Sept. 2019; with murals, a gilt crown and a gold cup inlaid with turquoise. kaogu.cssn.cn/zwb/xccz/20191…
1) In Qinghai, a royal tomb from the Tibetan Empire, circa 700, excavated Sept. 2018 to Sept. 2019; with murals, a gilt crown and a gold cup inlaid with turquoise. kaogu.cssn.cn/zwb/xccz/20191…
2) In Gansu, discovered on 25 September 2019, the tomb of Murong Zhi 慕容智, 3rd son of Murong Nuohebo, last khan of the Tuyuhun kingdom, who died in 691 aged 42. kaogu.cssn.cn/zwb/xccz/20191…
His wooden coffin is covered with silk cloth with elephants marching left and right.
A stone epitaph identifies the occupant of the tomb. This is the cover for the epitaph, inscribed "大周故慕容府君墓誌" = "Tomb epitaph for the deceased Lord Murong of the Great Zhou" (Great Zhou refers to the short-lived Zhou dynasty established by Empress Wu Zetian).
3) In Qinghai, at the Reshui tomb complex dating to the 6th-8th centuries, a large mausoleum was excavated between Sept. 2018 and Oct. 2019 in response to a case of tomb robbery. kaogu.cssn.cn/zwb/xccz/20191…
At the tomb entrance is a pit with the skeletons of six horses.
Various items of fine jewellery have been found, indicating the high status of the occupant.
4) In Xinjiang Yuli County, one of a series of Tang dynasty beacon towers first surveyed by Stein in 1914, has been under excavation for the last month (and is still continuing). kaogu.cssn.cn/zwb/xccz/20191…
Among the items found so far are some plates of armour ...
... and the remains of Chinese documents written on paper and wood.
