The perfectly preserved remains of five chariots and 12 horses (Picture: Photoshot)
Posted on 09/03/2011 11:45:43 AM PDT by SunkenCiv
Lying side by side, these horses have drawn a chariot in an ancient tomb for the past 3,000 years, which was recently discovered.
The equine bones, found in the Chinese city of Luoyang, have remained undisturbed since the early Western Zhou dynasty.
Archaeologists believe the 12 horses lying on their sides show the animals were slaughtered before burial, not buried alive.
As well as the horses and five chariots, bronzes and ceramics have escaped the clutches of history's grave robbers.
Archaeologists are convinced that the perfectly preserved tomb belongs to an official or a scholar of standing, given the pottery, metal weaponry and inscriptions.
The tomb, a vertical earthen pit, has excited historians since it was discovered during the construction of a hospital.
It gives an unprecedented insight into the funeral customs in the early Western Zhou dynasty.
It was the time of the great Chinese philosophers of ancient times, including Confucius.
The latest find is reminiscent of the famous terracotta army of thousands of preserved soldiers, which was discovered in 1974 in the Lintong district.
It had also remained undisturbed for thousands of years.
(Excerpt) Read more at metro.co.uk ...
The perfectly preserved remains of five chariots and 12 horses (Picture: Photoshot)
Were there indo-europeans?
Just love this stuff. Thank you SunkenCiv!
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For a second there,I thought I saw Red Sea in the title;)
Somewhere, maybe not here. :’)
;’) That must have been some wave to carry ‘em this far...
My pleasure!
The great Ben Hu...
The Bronze Chariot and Horses were unearthed in 1980s, along with the world famed Terracotta Warriors that could date back to the Qin Dynasty (221-206 B.C.). It was seriously rusted in more than 3,000 pieces and took dozens of archaeologists eight years to restore the sculpture. The priceless cultural relic was finally placed in Terracotta Warriors Museum in Xian, the capital of Shaaxi Province. More than 50 million visitors have seen them in the museum over the past 20 years. This is the first time the sculpture has been exhibited outside Shaanxi Province.
The Bronze Chariot is believed to be a copy of the personal carriage fleet of the Chinese first Emperor, Emperor Qin Shihuang, who unified China for the first time in 221 B.C. It was also said to be the chariot that cleared the way for the emperor. This invaluable piece contains a two-wheeled carriage, led by four horses and steered by an armed warrior, more than 35 hundred parts. The sculpture was made in life-size, about the 1-meter-tall and 3-meter-long, weighing more than 1,000 kilograms.
The China Pavilion exhibition of the Terra Cotta Warriors.
Amazing.
When oh When will the Chinese finally open the Qin Emperor’s tomb?
Even if all they do is release pictures, I hope to see it before I die.
Wow! What a pic.
Thanks for the post. SC
Just love this stuff. Thank you SunkenCiv!
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Ditto and ditto!
“When oh When will the Chinese finally open the Qin Emperor’s tomb?”
Bill, I agree! I hope to see it before I pass.
Neat picture!
I had the good fortune to visit Xian, site of the terra cotta warriors, in 1984 when just a small number of them had been excavated. The Chinese government was pacing the excavations so that there would be new discoveries for the next 25 years.
Xian was my favorite part of China, and I would return if I had the opportunity. The faces. The faces. I grew up in CA with many Chinese classmates and acquaintences. I recognized some of my friends in the faces of the Warriors. They say that no two are alike.
PLUS, there were other nationalities in the ranks of the warriors. I saw Turks and Indians (Indian Penninsula). I saw other Caucasion appearing faces.
I still display 3 Warrior figurines on my desk to this day.
;’)
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