Already the largest cache of gold coins ever discovered in a single Han Dynasty tomb, the haul discovered at the burial ground in east China got a little bigger last week, as archaeologists were able to find an additional 68 artifacts on Friday, according to published reports.
Most ever gold cakes unearthed in the Han Dynasty (206 B.C.-220 A.D.) tombs found in #Haihunhou tomb pic.twitter.com/GsDToacd8n
— China Xinhua News (@XHNews) December 25, 2015
As the Xinhua news agency explained, the newfound gold—which includes 20 thin plates roughly 22 centimeters long and 10 centimeters wide—bring the number of objects discovered at the tomb to a total of 378. The gold coins, most of which weigh approximately 250 grams, were recovered from the tomb of the first “Haihunhou” (Marquis of Haihun) in Nanchang City.
The site dates back to the Western Han Dynasty, a period spanning from 206 BC to 24 AD, and according to the Daily Mail, it consists of eight tombs and a chariot burial site. Researchers have been studying it for five years, during which time they have recovered Wuzhu bronze coins, jade, and thousands of other gold, bronze, and iron items.
Other artifacts discovered include bronze lamps, horse-drawn chariots
Reports indicate that the tomb is believed to have belonged to Liu He, grandson of Emperor Wu. Liu would have been given the title Haihunhou after he was deposed as emperor just 27 days into his reign, Xinhua said. With a surface area of some 40,000 square meters, it is believed to be the most complete cemetery from the Western Han Dynasty to ever be discovered.
Since 2011, more than 10,000 artifacts have reportedly been discovered within the tombs at this burial site. In addition to the gold, other items unearthed so far include a portrait of Confucius, a distiller, a board game, 2,000-year-old bronze lamps, and nearly 3,000 wooden tables.
The lamps, which were goose-shaped, would likely have been filled with water and used to clear out smoke inside the tomb, the Daily Mail explained. Hoof-shaped ingots and jade pendants were also among the thousands of items recovered during the ongoing expedition, 110 of which are on display at the Jiangxi Provincial Museum in Nanchang.
Furthermore, China Daily reported that several horse-drawn vehicles were found, along with the sacrificed remains of the four horses used to pull each and at least 3,000 accessories embellished with gold and silver. Archaeologist Xin Lixiang told the news outlet that vehicles pulled by four horses were only used by the highest-ranking elite members of the Han Dynasty.
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Feature Image: Thinkstock
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