Posted on 07/29/2006 5:55:58 PM PDT by blam
Tomb of 1st emperor's grandmother unearthed
www.chinaview.cn 2006-07-29 20:19:32
XI'AN, July 29 (Xinhua) -- After more than a year's excavation and research in a large tomb in northwest China's Shaanxi Province, Chinese archaeologists have concluded that the tomb belonged to the grandmother of Qinshihuang, the country's first emperor.
Zhang Tian'en, an expert with the Shaanxi Provincial Archaeology Institute, told Xinhua on Saturday that the tomb was chronologically the closest to the mysterious mausoleum of Qinshihuang, and was probably built on the emperor's orders.
"We are hoping that the excavation of his grandmother's tomb will help unravel the mystery about the first emperor's mausoleum, which still cannot be excavated. It will also contribute to research into Qin Dynasty burial culture," Zhang said.
The tomb, located in the southern outskirts of Xi'an, provincial capital of Shaanxi, is the second largest ancient tomb excavated in China. Only the tomb of King Jinggong of the State of Qin (897-221 BC) is bigger, said Zhang.
Located under the new campus of the Xi'an Business College, the tomb is about 30 kilometers southwest of Qinshihuang's famous mausoleum. Qinshihuang united seven warring states and founded the Qin Dynasty in 221 BC.
550 meters long and 310 meters wide, the tomb covers an area of 17.3 hectares.
Archaeologists unearthed two carriages designed to be driven by six horses, which could only be used by kings and queens in the State of Qin.
The seals of court officials responsible for running errands on behalf of queens, queen mothers and princes, have also been found, said Wang Hui, an expert with Shaanxi Normal University.
After further examination on the unearthed articles and comparisons with Qin mausoleums, the archaeologists concluded that the tomb belonged to Qinshihuang's grandmother, Queen Mother Xia.
According to Ding Yan, an associate researcher with the Shaanxi Research Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology, the main tomb for the Queen Mother is 140 meters long, 113 meters wide and 15 meters deep, with the tomb chamber covering an area of more than 100 square meters.
Ding said that since the tomb was raided and burned several times, only fragments of Qin coins, grey clay vases and red clay boilers have been unearthed, as well as shards of decorative and ritual jade objects, broken pottery and pieces of bronze.
Sadly, Qingshihuang's grandmother's inner and outer coffins were also burned, Ding added.
The tomb is still under excavation.
Zhang Tian'en said that the Queen Mother lived until Qinshihuang was 20 years of age and in the seventh year of his reign. The royal lady is believed to have exerted considerable influence on the politics of the later years of the State of Qin and on Qinshihuang in particular.
China's survey of the 2,200-year-old Qinshihuang mausoleum has lasted nearly 40 years. What has been discovered is believed to be just the tip of the iceberg.
The site remains a mystery even if the terra cotta warrior underground army has long been unearthed and hailed as the world's eighth wonder.
"The best choice is to leave the ancient tomb untouched because, given the complicated conditions inside, excavation errors could lead to its destruction," said Duan Qingbo, a top archaeologist with the Shaanxi Provincial Archaeology Institute.
"Current techniques cannot ensure that the mausoleum will be properly protected after excavation."
According to historical records, some 720,000 workers labored 38 years to build the mausoleum for the emperor, who ruled the Qin Dynasty, China's first unified dynasty, from 221-206 BC.
Archaeologists, using remote sensing equipment, have located symmetrical staircases leading down into the tomb and wooden structures inside the tomb.
They have also discovered that the tomb was built with an effective drainage system that has prevented ground water from seeping inside, according to Duan.
Legends maintain that a huge underground palace was modeled on the emperor's realm with rivers flowing with mercury and the ceiling studded with pearls and diamonds representing the stars and sun.
"Our survey shows that the mercury density in Qinshihuang's cemetery area is vastly higher than that in the surrounding area, and confirms that the mercury comes from the mausoleum," Duan said.
The mausoleum was also said to have architectural designs that archaeologists believe have successfully kept out tomb robbers. Enditem
GGG Ping.
I always wondered about this and maybe I am wrong, but I do not want my grandma dug out of the ground just because her family is not there to protect her. Pretty friggin sick if you ask me. A scientist can exhume my grandma.
Cool. so what is your great grandfathers name and do you think he should be dug up. Aftr all it is for science.
LAID TO REST GOD BLESS THIS PERSON.. I would cry if you invaded my ancestors grave . You have no right whether it be 3 years or 5600 years. You have no right, I am always sickened when mummies are found. Leave them alone . I pray that when I pass away I can live in eternity and..ohoh,what the hell,,some scientist wants to rip my clothes off and take me outa my grave. MY GRAVE.
There is an unbelieveable and gruesome story associated with that graveyard and the move if you want to hear it.
Blam, wasn't your great-grandfather cremated after he died in Africa while on Safari? Seems there was some discussion about it.
How curious. Either Blam is lying, or he has more than one great-grandfather.
Now, I read a study done in England about the water wells downstream of cemetaries...the drinking water is loaded with human protein. Are they drinking their relatives?
He should have four of them.
No. You're just stiring up trouble, Lucy!
Actually, it's for history. Was your great grandfather embalmed? Put in a fancy box? Buried with lots of other dead people under a big, fancy grave marker? Then he is, or will be, a legitimate subject for history. Especially when the culture which buried him disappears and their rites become essentially meaningless. If you're so concerned about archaeologists digging you up thousands of years after everyone has forgotten you, then make sure there's nothing left for them to dig up.
How curious of YOU. I had four great-grandfathers.
Descendent Of Stone Age Skeleton Found (Cheddar Man - 9,000 years Old)
Mr Targett has not moved more than two miles from is ancestorial homeland of 9,000 years. (And, my ex-wife complained I didn't like to go anywhere.)
Please FREEPMAIL me if you want on or off the
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The question is after all this time, does it still smell like mothballs?
bump
Thanks for the post on the Chinese tomb and for the link to Mr. Targett (Cheddar man story). I have personally seen the clay soldiers in Xian (almost 25 years ago) and I find anything written about them to be fascinating.
Apparently, from what I've read, the soldiers are just the 'tip of the iceberg.'
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