????An ancient tomb dating
back to over 3,000 years ago was recently excavated at the famous
Yin Ruins in central China, and archaeologists say the tomb
belonged to a high-ranking military officer of the Shang Dynasty
(BC1600 to BC1046).
????The tomb had not been stolen before
archaeological excavation, and therefore, has great archaeological
value, experts say.
????Coffins painted in red and carved with
dragon patterns were discovered in the 5.04 meter-long and
3.3 meter-wide tomb.
????Relics of 15 immolated humans and 15
dogs were found in the tomb together with over 570 bronzes,
jades and other funeral objects.
????A large number of weapons were unearthed
including seven pieces of yue, a kind of axe, which symbolizes
the leading military status.
????New findings also include a hand-shaped
bronze instrument and a shield, which had never been seen
in the Yin Ruins, according to archaeologists.
????From the inscriptions on the excavated
bronzes, archaeologists concluded that the occupant of the
tomb was a high-ranking officer attending the emperor of the
Shang Dynasty.
????Covering an area of 24 square kilometers,
the Yin Ruins in Anyang County, Henan Province, were the site
of the Shang Dynasty Capital for 273 years. Archaeological
excavations from 1928 revealed remains of palaces, tombs,
workshops, many tools, ritual vessels, and musical instruments.
In 1973, shells and bones numbering 7,000 pieces were found,
of which 4,800 bore inscriptions, believed to be earliest
Chinese characters.
????To the north of the newly found tomb
is the central palace area of Yin Ruins, to the northwest
of the tomb lies the tomb of Fu Hao, one of the consorts of
the Shang King Wu Ding, which was excavated in 1976.
????(People's Daily 03/18/2001)
