Chinese archaeologists announced on Tuesday the discovery of 50 gold coins and 25 goldhoof-shaped ingots in an aristocrat's tomb that dates back to the Western Han Dynasty(206 BC - 24 AD) in Nanchang, central China's Jiangxi Province.
The coins weigh about 250 grams each, while the hooves vary from 40 to 250 grams.According to Yang Jun, who led the excavation team, the gold objects are the largest singlebatch of gold items ever found in a Han Dynasty cemetery.
The tomb is thought to belong to Liu He, grandson of he ruler of Han Dynasty, EmperorWu. The Dynasty was one of the most prosperous periods in China's history. Liu was giventhe title of "Haihunhou" (Marquis of Haihun) after he was deposed as emperor after only27 days. Researchers believed the gold objects were awarded to the marquis by EmperorWu.
The Haihunhou cemetery, covering around 40,000 square meters with eight tombs and achariot burial site, is the most complete and best preserved Han Dynasty tomb clusterever discovered. The excavation team also found other objects include a portrait ofConfucius, nearly 3,000 wooden tablets and bamboo slips, as well as a large number ofbronze, gold and jade items at the site.
【1】【2】【3】【4】【5】
