Chinese archaeologists have unearthed a number of camel skeletons in burial pits built during the Western Han Dynasty (BC 206 - AD 24) in the northwestern province of Shaanxi.

The camel bones were excavated in the outlying burial pits of the Pingling Mausoleum, tomb of Zhaodi, the sixth emperor of Western Han, and the empress.

Archaeologists said that the discovery reflected the cultural exchanges between the east and west more than 2,000 years ago.

Archaeologist also unearthed more than 20 salmon-colored wooden horses, 50 centimeters in height, in other burial pits near the imperial tomb.

The Pingling Mausoleum is 405 meters from east to west and 400 meters from north to south. More than 30 smaller tombs surround the imperial tomb, archaeologists said.

(People's Daily November 6, 2001)