Ancient Tomb Findings Stun Archaeologists (China)

Xinhuanet/China View ^ | 12-22-2003

[blam]

Ancient tomb findings stun archaeologists

www.chinaview.cn 2003-12-22 11:06:24

BEIJING, Dec. 22 (Xinhuanet) -- The finding of ancient tombs which may take up a total area of 1 million square metres in southern Beijing has surprised many archaeologists.

Exploration of the first group of the graves, covering an area of around 200,000 square kilometres, has already started, with that into the rest five to six groups not yet scheduled, source with the Beijing Municipal Cultural Relics Bureau was yesterday quoted by the Beijing-based Star Daily.

"Our preliminary prospecting indicates there are 40 to 50 ancient graves in the designated Group One, of which we have explored about one-third," said an official identified as Zhu.

Archaeologists have only discovered graves from Han (206 BC-AD 220) and Tang (618-907) dynasties so far, but Zhu said the conclusion was left open regarding whether or not graves from other dynasties might still be found there.

Unfortunately, said Zhu, the Han graves that have been explored so far have been robbed, with but only a few ancient coins left, while those from the Tang Dynasty, mainly containing pottery and china, did not generate much interest.

Therefore, the municipal government has not yet decided whether to pledge manpower and money to protect the graves. "This will be decided mostly by the value of the graves," Zhu said.

The graves were found by local farmers in Yizhuang, a zone mainly for foreign ventures. Zhu said the graves may actually be relocated.

Zhu considered the greatest merit of this discovery is it has for the first time proved the huge population of the region at the time.

"Due to southern Beijing's backward economy and devastating floods of the Yongding River in ancient times, we traditionally consider the area as 'not populous,'" he said.

"We now suspect there will be remains of populous towns in the area as well. But no clues have so far been found."

[blam]

They better be careful when they start excavating the Han dynasty tombs, some of the Han Emperors were noted for their green eyes and red hair.

[blam]

Ping.

[OXENinFLA]

Green eyes did you say?

[concerned about politics]

Archaeologists have only discovered graves from Han (206 BC-AD 220) and Tang (618-907)

This sounds like a playstation game, or something found in a deck of Pokemon cards.

[Frank_Discussion]

Lo Pan will be so pleased!

[LiteKeeper]

SPOTREP

[ValerieUSA]

It's disconcerting to think the red haired people of China allowed themselves to be wiped out in an ancient ethnic cleansing.

[headsonpikes]

A '200,000 square kilometer' grave-yard is one H of a cemetery.

A future Chinese Democratic Party will have no end of voters. ;^)

[Willie Green]

"Due to southern Beijing's backward economy and devastating floods of the Yongding River in ancient times, we traditionally consider the area as 'not populous,'" he said.

Yeah, well considering the billions of Chinese that are alive today,
I can't even imagine how many billions they've had over the last 5~10,000 years.
My guess is they couldn't find anywhere else to bury 'em that wasn't already used at some time or other. Dig a hole anywhere in China, you're bound to find SOMEBODY buried there. The only question is: who knows when?

[TASMANIANRED]

GEE, I always thought those traits in me and the other 4 redheads in my family came from Viking raping and pillaging raids. Maybe I am actuall chinese.

I have a great neice. Her parents are 1/2 Italian/German Dad and Mom 1/4 Korean/Unknown Caucasion. Adrianne has curly red hair, milk white skin and the prettiest almond brown eyes I have ever seen. She is going to grow up a real looker.

[Naspino]

The only question is: who knows when?

When Ho or When Chi?

[Willie Green]

Wen Dug Deep.

[GladesGuru]

They might well have been beaten in the reproduction race. Look at the white populations in America, and the pitiful situation in most of Western Europe.

[aruanan]

I can't even imagine how many billions they've had over the last 5~10,000 years.

Not really. There are more people alive right now than there ever have been in the entire history of the human race. It wasn't too long ago that the world population was only 200 million.

[blam]

The Curse Of The Red-Headed Mummy

[bert]

 

Izzat Ibrahim al-Douri was one of Saddam Hussein's 

most long-standing top aides and most trusted confidants.

 

Well, now I know how this occurred.

I thought some Scotsman from some long ago British Occupation was responsible.

I guess not.

There was a similar looking man in Kabul in the early governmental organization sessions.

Perhaps there are a few red heads still kicking around the back corners of Asis.

 

 

 

[flashbunny]

Jack Burton: and go off and rule the universe from beyond the grave...
Lo Pan: Indeed
Jack Burton: or check into a psycho ward, which ever comes first huh.

[blam]

I read just recently that the incident of red hair in Libya was about the same as Ireland.

[farmfriend]

Gods, Graves, Glyphs
List for articles regarding early civilizations , life of all forms, - dinosaurs - etc.

Let me know if you wish to be added or removed from this ping list.

[msdrby]

ping