Chinese archaeologists have unearthed 50 ancient tombs dating back 2,400 years in Yunxian County of Danjiangkou City, central China's Hubei Province.

The excavation found more than 10 sets of ancient bronze artifacts for ceremonial use, including pots, cups, daggers and arrows at the No.4 tomb, said Huang Fengchun, a researcher from Hubei Cultural Relic Research Institute.

"Inscriptions, fine jade decorations and floral patterns can be easily identified on the surface of these artifacts," Huang said.

At the end of the 1950s, ancient tombs with similar artifacts were unearthed in Yunxian County. However, the excavations were slow and insufficient due to a lack of funds.

Belonging to the Spring and Autumn Period (770 B.C. to 476 B.C.) of Eastern Zhou Dynasty, the floral patterns carved on the well-preserved tomb articles will provide valuable clues to the study of ancient funeral ceremonies and customs during that period, Huang said.

Located in northwest Hubei province, Yunxian County has abundant historical sites, such as the Meipu ape man relic site dating back 500,000 to 1 million years ago and the Qinglongquan ruins dating back to the New Stone Age, 12,000 years ago.
 
(Xinhua News Agency June 20, 2006)