Amazing find in China
(May 30, 2001) Magnesium plant site holds treasures from the past.
The Hydro Magnesium project team was getting ready to construct a new plant in Xi'an in the Shaanxi Province of central China – when they hit something big.
The project team and Chinese archeologists have uncovered several ancient tombs, possibly more than 2,000 years old.
"Some of the discovered pieces from the tombs are from the Western Han Dynasty between 206 BC and 9 AD, as well as Eastern Han Dynasty between 25 and 220 AD," says Xiao Jianyi, an archeologist from the Culture Relics Research Institute of Shaanxi Province in China.
"We need to clean up all of the relics before we can determine their actual value. However, at this point, we know that at least several pieces, like the bronze 'Fang,' bronze seals and mirrors can be ranked at grade 2 or 3 under China's national treasure ranking system."
Guo Xingping is deputy project manager and works closely with Joar Bergset, project manager, on all major project issues, and is in particular responsible for the follow-up of the site work.
"According to the People's Republic of China Relics Protection Law, land on which construction involved earthwork must first be surveyed and inspected by the archeologist or relevant institute. This Chinese law protects the nation's undiscovered treasures from being accidentally destroyed," Guo Xingping says.
"After the institute has excavated all the relics, we have been given a permit to continue with our construction and work. We have given the institute our full cooperation during this time and everything works out well for both parties. In fact, to help the institute in their future works, Hydro has decided to donate two digital cameras."
Says Xiao Jianyi: "I have been with the Culture Relics Research Institute of Shaanxi Province for five years. It is hard to say how often we make discoveries on average. Important finds are made all over the Shaanxi Province and not just in Xi'an. Some of the major discoveries in past years include a religion in which people admire fire as god, the Stone Bed, the Skull of Northern Zhou Emperor, Stone Armour of Qin Dynasty.
"There have been a lot of finds in Xi'an as well as in other parts of China. However, most prosperous dynasties in Chinese History – like the Zhou Dynasty, Qin Dynasty, Han Dynasty and Tang Dynasty – have all built their capitals here in Xi'an. Numerous relics and remains are kept above and underground. Hence, half of the important findings of China in the last 10 years are made here."
Archeologists use a core sampler to locate the tombs up to 100 meters underground. From the soil collected, they can discern whether it is disturbed or undisturbed.
"Besides, the tombs are always sealed on all sides by a rich and dense soil that protects them. An experienced person can immediately tell if there is a tomb below from the soil sample collected. By repeatedly pushing the core sampler into the soil, we can gauge and come up with a draft plan on the area and position of the tombs with very high accuracy. That draft plan will be our guide for excavation."
"It is still too early to make a conclusion about all the relics, for they are made of various kinds of materials. To determine their age, we have to apply different testing methods and that will take some time. However, the difference in shape, decoration and methods of production do offer some initial clues to their possible age," explains Xiao Jianyi.
"Take the green glazed jar, for example. Although the jar has a common shape, the glaze offers some clues. We know that green glaze only appears after the Western Han Dynasty, so we can guess for now that it may not be older than BC 206. In addition, the pottery figurines we found have a height common during the Han Dynasty. In the Qin Dynasty, the terracotta army was almost human size, but in the Han Dynasty they are about 60 centimeters high.
"Normally, we will write an excavation brief which includes introduction, procedures, more detailed conclusion with pictures and drawings. This information will be published in magazines like Archaeology and Cultural Relics. This may take us two years to complete, for there is still much to be done."
Xiao Jianyi says that now the institute will keep the relics.
Xi'an in the Shaanxi Province of central China is one of the oldest cities in the country. The earliest evidence of human habitation in the area stretches back 6,000 years to Neolithic times. Today, it remains one of China's most attractive cities with its major attraction, the Terracotta Warriors.
However, with its long history, Xi'an's importance is not limited to just this "Army of the Emperor Qin." There are countless sights in the city, from pagodas to mosques to temples, not to mention the thousands more to be discovered. In addition, Xi'an is located on the ancient Silk Route, producing a mixture of Chinese and Muslim culture. In fact, it has the largest Muslim population outside the oil-rich and Muslim-dominated province, Xinjiang.
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