TAIYUAN, Dec. 9 (Xinhua) -- Over 500 artifacts have been unearthed from ancient tombs dating back around 2,700 years in north China's Shanxi Province, local authorities said on Wednesday.
The unearthed cultural relics are of various materials, including copper, jade, stone, lacquer, pottery, gold, lacquer wood, leather, and bamboo, according to Yang Jiyun, a researcher with the provincial institute of archaeology.
Nearly 50 sets of bronze wares with inscriptions were also discovered. Fourteen articles contain these inscriptions, and the characters are still recognizable.
The tombs at the Beibai'e tomb site belonged to the nobles of the early Spring and Autumn Period (770-476 BC), judging from the tombs' shape, form, and artifacts, said Yang.
The excavation provides new insights for the study of the political system, demographic characteristics, and the social life of the period in the region.
Archaeologists have excavated nine tombs covering some 1,200 square meters at the site in Yuncheng City of Shanxi since April. Enditem
