China has launched a mammoth project designed to protect hundreds of ancient tombs in the Mount Mangshan area of Luoyang city in central China's Henan Province.

Chinese archaeologists will make thorough surveys and exploration of the number and distribution of ancient tombs in the area, using high-tech means, said Zhu Liang, head of the No. 2 Archaeological Work Team of Luoyang city, which is responsible for the current investigation and exploration.

Archaeologists will also search for unknown tombs in the area, said Zhu. All data and materials obtained from the current investigation program will be used for future protection, study and excavations of ancient tombs in the area.

Beginning last month, the project will be carried out in three phases, from 2003 to 2005, from 2006 to 2009 and from 2010 to 1012.

A renowned city with a longstanding history, Luoyang was made the capital city of 13 dynasties in Chinese history during a historical period of more than 1,000 years.

Covering more than 750 square kilometers, the Mount Mangshan area spans seven districts and counties of Xigong, Laocheng, Jianxi, Hequ, Luolong, Yanshi and Mengjin in the northern part of Luoyang, The area is crowded with hundreds of thousands of mausoleums of ancient kings and emperors as well as tombs of nobles and ordinary people, the largest group of ancient tombs that has ever been found in China.

The date of the tombs ranges from the Eastern Zhou Dynasty (770 BC - 256 BC) to the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911).

Owing to wind and rainwater erosion and damage caused by bustling human activities, the number of tombs that have surface signs has declined to less than 400 from the former 600 in the early years following the founding of New China in 1949.

Records show that Mengjin county used to have 791 ancient tombs in 1913 but the number dropped to 555 in 1966, 261 in 1984 and 250in 1997.

"Efforts are extremely urgently required to rescue and protect the ancient tombs in Mount Mangshan area," appealed Han Guohe, a noted professor with the History and Archaeology Department of prestigious Zhengzhou University.

He suggested that parks and open museums be built in the area to avoid damage by human activities.

Ancient tombs in the area were rare materials for the study of tomb building and social life in ancient times in China, Prof. Hansaid.

In 2000, the Zhengzhou University launched a program to research the mausoleums of emperors of the Eastern Han Dynasty (25AD - 220 AD).

In 2001, the Ministry of Education launched a major research program on tomb building of the Han dynasty and Tang Dynasty (618-907). The program covers the study of ancient tombs in the Mount Mangshan area.

The current survey and exploration program aims to achieving an accurate count of tombs and ruins in the area.
 
(Xinhua News Agency November 7, 2003)