Seventeen ancient tombs, dating back to 206 BC to 1644 AD, were discovered in Shangluo City of northwest China's Shaanxi Province early this month.
The tombs were all located in an area of 2,000 square meters. Among the 14 that have been unearthed so far, six were built in the Han Dynasty (206 BC to 220), three in the Sui Dynasty (581-618), three in the Tang Dynasty (618-907) and two in the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644).
It is rare to find tombs built in different dynasties in Chinese history in one place, said a local archeologist.
The tombs illustrate the different customs and styles of graves in these dynasties, he added.
Tombs built in the Han Dynasty have rectangle graves while grave built in the Tang Dynasty look like an upside-down boat.
Pottery, ancient bronze coins, porcelain utensils and a bronze mirror were unearthed in the tombs.
(Xinhua News Agency May 20, 2003)
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