2018 Pre-Modern Eastern Asia Archaeological Digest

2018 Pre-Modern Eastern Asia Archaeological Digest Keith N. Knapp The Citadel Overview China 1. The ten top archaeological finds in China in 2017, with links to reports on each site. http://kaogu.cssn.cn/ywb/news/academic_activities/201804/t20180412_4258679.shtml?fbclid=IwAR0Hr1 dY4VkAcCiNWeC4mki7woMeGWtdB1p74R3P_oXCJjI8McCsn4VhLRY Neolithic 2. In Xiping, Henan, archaeologists have excavated six wells that date back 9,000 years. Those wells are 2,000 years older than any previously found. Five water carrying pots have also been found there. The wells were five meters deep and some had stairs. http://kaogu.net.cn/en/News/New_discoveries/2018/0209/61092.html?fbclid=IwAR3UFWTuy6KLsgNN8Qk1 Zvg7H--Lus3yCvo8swZju-F6Ejtaz2uHmdlb_dg 3. In Xinyang, Henan, archaeologists have found a 5,000 year old ruins of a temple or shrine that is in the shape of the Big Dipper. This shrine has nine ceramic pots laid out in the shape of the Big Dipper with a round sacrificial altar on the east side. Near the altar are three funerary urns and a skeleton of a person who died an unnatural death. The ruins of a mud-brick house was found nearby. This is the earliest mud-brick structure found in central China. The Big Dipper temple indicates that people of the Yangshao Culture had astronomic knowledge. At the Qingtai site, archaeologists also excavated 189 graves. http://kaogu.net.cn/en/News/New_discoveries/2018/0403/61554.html?fbclid=IwAR0cuBvIjqcxooLEu4Ob9Q6 QRb1CLmlb3Bmmyhw8Y-XNhQ4FMorQpyw0GlE 4. In Gaoling county, which is north of Xi'an, archaeologists have discovered a large adult cemetery that belongs to the Miaodigou period of the Neolithic Yangshao culture. 336 tombs have been found there, half of which have been excavated. The tombs are all single burials, largely of middle-aged people. Some of the tombs are earthen shaft pit tombs, while others are cave tombs. In some tombs there the remains of round post hole in the eastern or western ends of the tomb passage. It is thought that a funerary banner was probably placed in these post holes. There were also half-cave tombs in which a small cave, like a niche, was dug into the western wall of the tomb. These half-caves could only accommodate skulls or the upper-bodies of the dead. Some skeletons had their finger bones removed. The finger bones might be found around the skull or in the filling soil. This suggests the existence of some type of body-cutting ritual. The cemetery had few infants or children, and no elderly people. This is the first large adult cemetery from the Miaodigou period ever found in China. http://kaogu.net.cn/en/News/New_discoveries/2018/0302/61231.html?fbclid=IwAR3B0Rr11l6NJ9WH3vXtcKSb9BRHfJdAXU59_g91nbiS6ZAPIiSCGdOVJA 1 5. In Jilin province's Changbai mountains, archaeologists have discovered a set of stone chimes that are at least 4,500 years old. The instrument consists of five stones that have high, middle, and low tones. http://kaogu.net.cn/en/News/New_discoveries/2018/0403/61553.html?fbclid=IwAR1m8FHYHxaX1txkua bnqd8J9yFrFeV0vth6KqUEuMcP5fFR_FojJ_UG1j4 6. At a 4,000 year old Lower Xiajiadian Gaojiataizi site in Chifeng, Inner Mongolia, archaeologists have identified ink marks on pieces of pottery as three or four characters. The characters were written with an animal-hair brush. The archaeologists think that the pottery with the characters was used in a sacrificial context. Unfortunately there are no photographs. http://kaogu.net.cn/en/News/New_discoveries/2018/0212/61108.html?fbclid=IwAR1Felzfz5dhRagMMW adnz45PwAe_YSLMiuU9VKAE_svRiJwZzJWox9OYHg 7. Excavation of the Lushan Mao site in the Baota district of Yan'an, Shaanxi, indicates that a fortification complex existed there existed as early as 4,500 years ago. Historical sources suggest that it was fortified only 2,200 years ago, but the new finds have indicated this is wrong. https://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2018/01/archaeological-finds-suggestyanan.html?spref=fb&fbclid=IwAR1cvqMcjArCXAOLQgQyM3coGFRRc90oRzKJM8F_HRWhK9ty6 tjQY7OMfr8#oOE0dRai1kKFmPKH.97 8. This article reports on the Shimao ancient city site in Shaanxi. It is 4,000 years old. It has a massive step pyramid that is 240 feet high and covers 59 acres. The pyramid consisted on 11 steps. On the topmost one there were palace structures and a giant water reservoir. The structure was decorated with eye symbols and half-human, half-animal faces. There are also many sacrificial pits filled with human heads. https://www.livescience.com/63406-massive-shimao-pyramid-unearthedchina.html?fbclid=IwAR0qYi0qA0uBPY9mTFqFwXnHiy9dhus5uCHc2JddiFVR1lgekdg6gj5_BqI Shang/Western Zhou 9. This article talks about two Shang Dynasty skulls found at Anyang that showed evidence of being operated on. The skull of the ten year old boy indicated that he survived the operation. The article also notes that the Oracle Bones record the names of fifty different diseases. One of the excavated Shang tombs at Anyang had leaves of the oriental bittersweet plant, which is a herb used as a snake venom serum, in a bronze vessel. The badly injured femur of another skeleton was found to have pepper on it, which was used to relieve pain and stop bleeding. Despite living three thousand years ago, the Shang people had quite a bit of medical knowledge and know-how. https://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2018/11/3000-year-old-human-skulls-fromchina.html?spref=fb&fbclid=IwAR1RIj7Xy-tTPb2AtNAOLz7zf5ozhQAfQwfyHoJeapp5I7lfo0N_TJjoiw#slKHQX8oJ1TRh8Ec.97 10. In Quzhou Zhejiang, authorities discovered a tomb in the summit of a mountain that had been repeatedly looted. The tomb had a chamber partially made of wood that was shaped like the character 2 人. Three of the pit's walls were made of piled up stones. The base of the chamber was made of flat stones. The tomb, which faces west, has two 人 shaped wooden structures that divide the tomb into two chambers. Even though the tomb has been robbed many times it still has many grave goods, most of which are bronzes vessels and jades, with weapons and pottery being smaller in number. Given the fine workmanship of the jades and bronzes, the tomb occupant was probably a high-ranking aristocrat. This is the largest early Western Zhou tomb found in Zhejiang Province. This tomb also is the earliest to have the ren-shaped wooden structures. http://kaogu.net.cn/cn/xccz/20180622/62325.html?fbclid=IwAR33w54eFDBCvEBOo9HYwUyc2Gr4HW AVDW89focsVdg8e7n541OM3IzkTt0 11. In Jingshan county, Hubei, archaeologists have discovered a major Western and Eastern Zhou site, Sujialong. The Sujialong site has tombs, residential ruins, as well as the remains of three copper smelting furnaces. The site is in area that belonged to the Zeng state. So far 106 tombs and two chariot pits have been excavated. Many of the tombs are well preserved and more than 500 bronze vessels have been recovered, 50 of which have inscriptions. Adding icing to the cake, many of the bronze vessels are in assemblages and in clear order. One of the large tombs belongs to Marquis Qi of Zeng State 曾伯桼 and his wife. http://kaogu.net.cn/en/News/New_discoveries/2018/0206/61045.html?fbclid=IwAR3qqD5t0hyEGxBMRp JIirJ-KJIIVtgn1PKL1b70BxTSQSyzSlw-TGCztDY 12. In Xiangjiang autonomous region, after searching 47 sites, archaeologists have discovered a number of fascinating and rare artifacts, including rare "wooden corpses." The artifacts date from 4,000 to 2,000 years ago. Lots of photos to enjoy. https://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2018/12/new-discoveries-in-xinjiangawe.html?spref=fb&fbclid=IwAR2wzY9itQi-Bbwh6FY4LsrXDyDtyVUDZOppeShtCI6VqFRMtrtc00tit0#fXw86YXrc0oQptSK.97 Eastern Zhou 13. Near Sanmenxia, Henan, archaeologists excavated 21 tombs and 6 sacrificial horse pits from a early to mid Spring and Autumn period small cemetery. Over 500 artifacts, including bronzes and jade pieces, were recovered from the tombs http://kaogu.cssn.cn/zwb/xccz/201807/t20180712_4502164.shtml?fbclid=IwAR01dRr5bSxg4xIgPxwHR8mh NwQU9txhbHiKl_armec2KXGApz0Fb-psLRc http://kaogu.cssn.cn/ywb/news/new_discoveries_1/201809/t20180929_4662649.shtml?fbclid=IwAR0OcpD8khfR-dzmhqWMohjpI0M0_CUSovs1gwBVarR4mL0LFc6Wo2dDq8 14. In an Eastern Zhou chariot pit in Hebei's Xingtangxian 行唐縣 site, archaeologists have recovered a finely decorated chariot. Check out the photos. 3 http://kaogu.cssn.cn/zwb/xccz/201812/t20181207_4789552.shtml?fbclid=IwAR3SmcVF2YWyw6PJ4HmR0fETcPI3wbWGb_vd70_8lNh7kICYewwGdoXJDw http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/201812/09/c_137661667.htm?fbclid=IwAR2TlEJbcRLOfQMdxBhW6TeuLL0PFilpJy_6qvzxAYpDOUGXDY6Fv fUq3Vk 15. Thanks to Birgette Samsoe Crawford for pointing out that this chariot pit is part of the Gujun site, which contained 36 Eastern Zhou burials, 7 horse and chariots pits, 50 wells, 420 ash pits, 2 kilns, and 2 hearths. It is a cemetery of Rong and Di nobles that dates to the late Spring and Autumn and early Warring States periods. The tombs are narrow and deep and filled with animal heads and hoofs, short straight swords, gold earrings, agate decorations, human and animal sacrifices, and the horse and chariot pits have distinctive horse and chariot decorations. http://www.kaogu.cn/en/Special_Events/Archaeology_Forum_2017/2018/0129/60889.html?fbclid=IwAR0Skl sjDe9elCJzynQOktNAuq-BT8y8i93U1LrNQFzh5SqNLTbMSkLG-Pw 16. In Gansu's Qinyang city, archaeologists excavated an Eastern Zhou site that has 12 tombs, a kiln, and a horse pit. In the M6 tomb, archaeologists found traces of matting on the outer coffin. The outer coffin also had 21 small holes that were probably used for string to tie down the matting. A horse pit contained two chariots, fourteen horses and a dog. The horse pit also had bronze sha 翣 ornaments. This is the first time they have been found in a non-tomb context. Burial goods included bronze vessels, jade beads and pendants, and for the first time proto-porcelain. http://kaogu.cssn.cn/zwb/xccz/201810/t20181023_4722276.shtml?fbclid=IwAR0o94Pzkoby8sHZLKsLe9z3n QBevJWZzwjIO29DtG9SIbk_r8oWwZObkZs http://kaogu.cssn.cn/ywb/news/new_discoveries_1/201812/t20181207_4789640.shtml?fbclid=IwAR0DrM7qwc_-JrlYBTCtGSBCJwRUc-NOd9Z7dUr19Xzqh5_pSfubeaJ0GA 17. In Tengzhou, Shandong, archaeologists excavated 136 Eastern Zhou tombs. 100 of these are small tombs; the other 36 are mid and large sized. The tombs yielded over 800 relics, including bronzes, pottery, jade pieces, and bone goods. The large and mid sized tombs date from the middle of the Spring and Autumn (771-476) period to the late Warring States (476-222). As for the grave of the highest ranking tomb occupant, his tomb chamber is 40 square meters in size and the grave goods he was buried with were abundant. Five people were sacrificed to accompany him in death. His tomb also had three large ding vessels. Based on the burial customs, the structure of the tombs, and the shape of the pottery, the excavating archaeologists think the people in this cemetery belonged to an Eastern Yi culture. https://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2018/07/136-ancient-tombs-discovered-inshandong.html?fbclid=IwAR2GGnRkC3ntOZwNS0NBV7B76hNI4z5ImSzlqcZjDcadJHH_FEqcr6yvtcg#I2k wGPCe8uexJu76.97 18. In Zhangqiu, Shandong, archaeologists have excavated four Eastern Zhou sacrificial pits, which included human bones. This means that the state of Qi sacrificed humans during the Eastern Zhou period. Besides human bones, archaeologists also recovered nearly the entire skeletons of two pigs and a cow. http://kaogu.net.cn/en/News/New_discoveries/2018/0323/61424.html?fbclid=IwAR3JoKztN1z0IjX6KBI1Rx7 6ttToqG9X29uYtSXlDxizx94aUpI4AekBgjk 4 http://kaogu.net.cn/en/News/New_discoveries/2018/0330/61504.html?fbclid=IwAR0DdoHRpQi0F996DC-T4GIDxoFp2lUW-ERskHw8fdnNrkJMdpzPTsgBF8 19. In Ning County, Gansu, archaeologists discovered six large, Eastern Zhou tombs. In place of an outer wooden coffin, some of the walls of the tombs were painted light green. The two un-looted tombs had seven bronze ding vessels and many other bronzes. This is the first time high class Spring and Autumn period tombs have been found in Qingyang city. http://kaogu.net.cn/en/News/New_discoveries/2018/0403/61557.html?fbclid=IwAR1lOVHTjRZjsPxpi7i1tqT3 0NDddO3xnWYCbPUjp3JZ4f11vniF6DJXUG8 20. Back in 2017, at the Ou'erping 偶尔坪 site in Jinzhong, Shanxi, archaeologists uncovered the remains of a Warring States (475-222 BCE) cemetery and settlement. Tombs at the site from the early Warring States period are all small rectangular earthen shaft pit tombs that contain single burials. Remnants from the later Warring States period include ash pits, kilns, and building remains. Indeed, four of the structures have underground building foundations. Three of these buildings were built of stone. The other was made of rammed earth and wood. A number of the pottery sherds found at the site have characters inscribed on them. http://kaogu.net.cn/en/News/New_discoveries/2018/0626/62366.html?fbclid=IwAR3ueQ3pYanm8K7JFifuTO vJVFrJPrK1MdCFfqwgL6PNH-v1hr_Xxsvocnc 21. In Chencang County, Shaanxi, which is about halfway between Tianshui and Xian, archaeologists have found 94 Warring States period sacrificial pits. They have excavated 8 pits of about the same size; each of which contains four horses and a chariot. Unfortunately, due to the great age of the pits, the bones of the horses and the wood of the chariots have rotted away. What's left are bronze ornaments and iron components of the chariot and horse gear. Also found within the unlooted pits are human figurines made from jade and jade 琮, both of which seem to form a set. In each of the pits there was also a special iron shovel/spade. Archaeologists believe that this was the site of a special sacrifice (吴阳下畤) made to Yandi 炎帝, which people often identify as an agricultural deity. Six photos. http://kaogu.cssn.cn/zwb/xccz/201812/t20181210_4791113.shtml?fbclid=IwAR2mmHttJbaXV545gLYtufOX TZHyRclCEu7Bh4NSxDgpWlXY05-G5Kyg-u0 22. Archaeologists in Sichuan have worked for 17 years to piece together a lacquered dragonbed that is 2,500 years old. It took that long to reconstruct because its pieces were scattered in different boat coffins. This artifact is supposed to be the oldest lacquered bed in China -- it is 2.5 meters long, 1.3 meters wide, and 1.8 meters tall. There are signs on the bed that are probably related to the language of the Shu state. https://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2018/01/chinese-archaeologists-restore2500.html?fbclid=IwAR3vo77gb4WksjSGONkzQOhH-V-8UbQwQTpR9bRNRErZFTh4gGjOp0h_bE#r5UAoSRSVbqT8m8D.97 https://www.outlookindia.com/newsscroll/oldest-buddhist-stele-discovered-intibet/1225941?fbclid=IwAR3A9zsbaZhjRroXt-85kvC5R6N_yRYkxOPB1drtyjTCwjTA_JWp5STtY3A 5 Qin-Han 23. In Baoji, Shaanxi province, archaeologists discovered 41 tombs of which 37 belonged to the Qin kingdom of the Warring States period (475-222 BCE). Extremely rare for the Qin period, right next to the cemetery was a large-scale settlement. Some of the pottery found in the tombs were of the Rong (a non-Chinese people) cultural style, suggesting that the Qin and Rong cultures had a close relationship even until the late Warring States. In an Eastern Han tomb at the site, a money tree was found. http://kaogu.net.cn/en/News/New_discoveries/2018/0612/62239.html?fbclid=IwAR2KWY6QT7TFRte7Qh3s9 oXntAJsNVA2CimDYCJgqVP2OYdB11jg_rYmfjw 24. A Qin tomb unearthed in Xianyang, Shaanxi, contained both a complete bronze sword, which appears to have been used in battle, and a vessel which still had alcohol within it. Archaeologists think it is a type of rice wine. This tomb also yielded a turtle plastron shell that shows signs that it was used for divination. https://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2018/03/2000-year-old-liquor-unearthedfrom.html?fbclid=IwAR2rAzLFbZ8I7YamblWKEedtgyXnFZLnqkArkPMkPNtfuFbFfXmXj3Vp3Q#oBXBtWLpqtzqg3zc.97 25. The remains of a Qin dynasty bureau of music has been found in Xianyang, Shaanxi. Archaeologists excavated a government building structure that has four rooms of equal size, which had walls 3 meters thick. Stone chimes and a percussion instrument were found in the ruins. At least one of the chimes has the inscription: "Musical department of the North Palace." The remains show signs of having been burned and the chimes were smashed. The excavating archaeologists think this shows that the office was burnt and looted (two rooms were entirely empty) at the end of the Qin dynasty. The article has a number of photos. http://kaogu.net.cn/en/News/New_discoveries/2018/0130/60921.html?fbclid=IwAR3ZSbNmUvAUo6OdqlY3 sH-hMHo_EnXnzNFdy4WcImgpbTOhijMb3igflKM 26. In Xianyang, Shaanxi, archaeologists excavated 21 tombs. 9 were from the Qin/Han period. Two of these tombs were unlooted and filled with many exquisite pieces of jade, bronze swords, and mirrors. 3 tombs date to the Northern Zhou and Sui dynasties. The tomb interiors had murals and mostly contained pottery grave goods. There were also 4 Tang dynasty tombs and 5 from the Song. http://kaogu.cssn.cn/zwb/xccz/201807/t20180731_4514705.shtml?fbclid=IwAR0WDHuwK60T6kurzK2p JrAxqDUAphjvV5u_eO2jDNUth86zRCG6g9EeLi4 http://kaogu.cssn.cn/ywb/news/new_discoveries_1/201809/t20180912_4558829.shtml?fbclid=IwAR3e8ic9 36GVVKUBYnYmwa_vS0ygCD0sl6lGwk9hdtKP51xgC0YwjGjagY8 27. At the Marquis of Haihun's (who lived in the first century BCE) tomb complex in Jiangxi, archaeologists have excavated Tomb no. 5, which belonged to the eldest son of the Marquis of Haihun. Within the tomb, over 100 relics were found, including a number of jade objects. This article has photos of six of the jades right after they were excavated. 6 http://kaogu.net.cn/en/News/New_discoveries/2018/0130/60914.html?fbclid=IwAR0XSipPXYJcjwJO9C nMFvqJeEzlrVV3EDSdDRcY8mSRqCV26WyxSqL34sw 28. In Quxian Sichuan at the Chengba 城坝 site, which dates to the Han, archaeologists have found tombs, old wells, ash pits, city gates and walls, residences, ditches, and kilns. Some of the wells are still in use. Among the thousand or so relics found at the site, the most precious were 15 slips of bamboo and wooden documents. The strips have close to 200 characters painted on them. The documents they are from include legal materials, letters, and even the primer, the Cangjie pian 仓颉篇. An eaves-tile even has the characters Dangqu 宕渠 on it, indicating that this was the site of the city Dangqu that is mentioned in historical sources. http://kaogu.cssn.cn/zwb/xccz/201809/t20180920_4564184.shtml?fbclid=IwAR0qmmJdZuSK4QjOrcovL PXCw5dA57cJ6kK5zhqREMoDmJuBgZhIWqE-PVM http://kaogu.cssn.cn/ywb/news/new_discoveries_1/201901/t20190102_4805294.shtml http://www.twoeggz.com/news/11022072.html?fbclid=IwAR0IZutdEjTkGiIBobxbNhwRdozqXH2HYcw c6X2jeA5HzykEdFkbHRYWosc 29. Back at the end of January, an important discovery was made in the Huangdao district of Qingdao, Shandong. Archaeologists found a well-preserved cemetery. Even though a minority of tombs were from the Eastern Zhou (25) and the Qing (28), the majority of tombs (125) were from the Han. 15 Han dynasty tumulus were excavated. Most of them covered two tombs, but one covered four. The second tomb was usually built on top of the old tumulus and a new tumulus was made to cover both the new and old tombs. Most of these tombs were vertical shaft rock pit tombs with brick-wood outer coffins. The inner and outer coffins of these tombs were of different types and numbers. Many tombs had proto-celadon vessels and amphora that were made in the Wu-Yue region. A jade mat was found under the tomb occupant of Tomb M147, as well as a jade seal. A jade wenming 溫明 was also found above the head of the deceased in M147. Many lacquer goods were also found. Happily 23 wooden tablets were recovered. 8 of these are burial object lists, six were administrative documents, two were name cards, and several were blank. http://www.kaogu.cn/cn/xccz/20180131/60941.html?fbclid=IwAR1sRgZfqtMPqW9tgkeKBge76viyNxd3H9u 5EQ9oT5SzLDRtKk2MjSh7-t4 http://kaogu.net.cn/en/News/New_discoveries/2018/0330/61521.html?fbclid=IwAR166wFLiufTuT2LWM7l2 18Deg3Jha0gwULph4HAqraMNmtCYTBhbxdZ-pI This Chinese article has a number of the grave goods after they have been cleaned up. http://news.qingdaonews.com/qingdao/201801/17/content_20079807.htm?fbclid=IwAR3HEgHHX5dW2_c1JGLGqfuWYGzTtoPHDv52s5i0TU9pYb9PR 2iZ0cArs_A 30. In Xinjin County of Chengdu, Sichuan, archaeologists have discovered the ruins of a large-scale Han dynasty (206 BCE -220 CE) village. The remains of nine houses, more than 20 ash pits, 8 ash ditches, and 1 well have been discovered there. 7 http://kaogu.cssn.cn/ywb/news/new_discoveries_1/201807/t20180727_4511999.shtml?fbclid=IwAR1mlP HI7Igbs1zjdeSON_k_V1xJ0T_KmAm7u9thkqOL9_nRoWIn3Cryk0s 31. A Han dynasty tomb uncovered in Xunwu County, Jiangxi. The image of the cart on the pictorial brick is a little cruder than I'm used to seeing. https://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2018/07/han-dynasty-tomb-robbed-in-pastfound.html?fbclid=IwAR1jJHKwKsSYZZeq_jdzlPp6Jn83noMpY14xZAXfecaIMuB4Dp3l7FjMKX8#y pmDK4P64A6ez2vV.97 32. Back in November in Chengdu's Chenghua area, archaeologists excavated four tombs that date to the early to mid Eastern Han. One of the four (M3) was still in very good shape. It was a brick-chambered tomb with a tally-shaped ceiling? (券顶). The tomb had two pottery coffins the tops of which had been knocked off by tomb robbers. A number of bronze coins were dispersed in the bottom of the coffins. The tomb also had an iron sword, pottery models, the base of a money tree, and pottery figurines. http://kaogu.cssn.cn/zwb/xccz/201811/t20181116_4776889.shtml This English version has a bunch of different photos https://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2018/11/tombs-of-eastern-han-dynastydiscovered.html?spref=fb&fbclid=IwAR3RgXRLDQ0kMQaMSYLxCwyz_PoleA61gLFgubLoyAjbJuiMiGT 5RvBeF4A#4hlsgLpPXubwxtu4.97 33. Back in 2017, a team of archaeologists discovered a site that had 29 Han and Ming-Qing tombs. The team decided to move one of the tombs in its entirety to the Taiyuan Municipal Museum to open it there. Within this Western Han tomb that dates to before 118 BCE, the archaeologists found 66 artifacts, including documents written on bamboo slips. This is the first time that documents written on bamboo slips have been found in Shanxi Province. Among the other artifacts found were a complete lacquered case of cosmetics, bronze mirrors, zithers, ear cups, and bronze and jade seals. It is thought that the tomb occupant was a civil official for a prince. http://kaogu.cssn.cn/zwb/xccz/201811/t20181122_4779890.shtml?fbclid=IwAR0jSkbrQhy3LeaCdXMDHSh M4x7r5Zrn7j1UQ85Lh2-OvEKXtajxiSR0MhQ 34. In the Haizhou District of Lianyungang, Jiangsu, archaeologists found a cemetery that had tombs from the Han (206 BCE - 220) and Tang/Song period (618-1279). A special aspect of one of the Eastern Han tombs was that within it a tree trunk was placed within the tomb to act as a divider. Some of the Tang-Song tombs are special because their main chamber is in the shape of a flipped boat. http://kaogu.cssn.cn/ywb/news/new_discoveries_1/201811/t20181120_4778807.shtml?fbclid=IwAR2Gyg0ZMFuAOhduq_Q7Lh3jQp78YdIjCi50uxFRyL8VvxH9N-X1GURAhE 8 35. A large, multi-chambered tomb made from hollow bricks was excavated in Luoyang last month. Archaeologists date it to the middle or late Western Han. Within it, archaeologists recovered many important artifacts made out of bronze and jade, including a bronze lamp made in the form of a goose. A bronze vessel was discovered that contains a liquid, which the excavators think is a fine alcohol. https://www.bannedbook.org/bnews/cbnews/20181107/1027251.html?fbclid=IwAR22NBrQnXnpEbkObckYPzV7ILxgq7qLQyyGdNjbb9iGP2svu2CBrOt7IM Here are two videos of the find: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aI9pDcANyGU&fbclid=IwAR0nr6fNhRwEslMdnlSwMqVrHshMLS9rab ckMTj1LcZYHwlGYfKwlArLtmc https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aI9pDcANyGU&fbclid=IwAR0nr6fNhRwEslMdnlSwMqVrHshMLS9rab ckMTj1LcZYHwlGYfKwlArLtmc Six Dynasties 36. In Yongjia County, Zhejiang, archaeologists excavated 68 tombs, 59 of which were from the Han and Six Dynasties. All of them were vertical pits with brick chambers. On the bricks that make up the tomb chamber walls, there are various patterns: bronze coins, the blue-green dragon, the white tiger, fish patterns, human faces, etc. Some also have reign periods, such as 咸康”、“咸和”、“宁康”、“元 嘉”、“永明”、“升平”“永泰." M13 even had six pictorial stones that featured servant women and flying immortals. Most of the tombs have celadon wares. Some even have objects made of gold, bronze, silver, iron, and glass. Besides 17 celadon vessels,an 337 Eastern Jin tomb contained a bronze crossbow trigger, a glass bowl, an ink stand, three silver rings, two iron mirrors, and a bronze coin. This is the largest number of Han and Six Dynasties tomb ever found near Wenzhou. http://kaogu.cssn.cn/zwb/xccz/201810/t20181018_4714287.shtml?fbclid=IwAR2oVNe6CKpX3my1ABDNtvI YtjAWAVLYJvsd3zAVtzEPDyaFpcoTs1Fa62Y 37. In Xishui County, in northern Guizhou, archaeologists excavated the Huangjinwan site, which yielded house ruins, ash ditches, ash pits, tombs, kilns, and over 10,000 artifacts. The remains and artifacts were from the Neolithic, Shang/Western Zhou, and Han-Jin period. Most of the cultural remains are from the Han-Jin period. The Neolithic remains include kilns, which are the earliest and most complete ones found in Guizhou. The Han-Jin remains include a settlement site from the Han era that is the largest in northern Guizhou. 58 Han-Jin tombs were found at the site; they include shaft pit tombs, cliff tombs, brick chamber tombs, urn tombs, and tile coffin burials. The tombs share many characteristics with Han dynasty ones found in Chongqing and Sichuan. The Han-Jin remains show the influence of Han culture, Ba-shu culture, the southwest Yi region, and the northwest region. The Han-Jin tombs contained many weapons, but few agricultural tools, which might reflect that the tomb occupants were soldiers, yet their skeletal remains show no signs of wounds. http://kaogu.net.cn/en/News/New_discoveries/2018/0109/60669.html?fbclid=IwAR2GGyRRO5G8_y2MTCzs KVVz9B4R37YdZbVJV9al7CdGZOXRGOwZqEnFxQ8 9 38. In Chengdu's Jintang County, over 90 cliffs tombs have been discovered. The tombs date from the Eastern Han to the end of the Eastern Jin. Close to thirty of the tombs date to the Sixteen Kingdom period's Cheng-Han state. Up until now only ten Cheng-Han tombs have been discovered. Eastern Han tombs at the site often have multiple rooms and the deceased were buried in pottery coffins; Jin dynasty tombs are simpler, they usually only have one room, and the deceased were buried in wooden coffins. The Cheng-Han tombs also have coins that have imprinted on them the reign name Hanxing 漢興, which were minted by the Cheng-Han state. These are the earliest coins in China to be imprinted with a reign title. This information comes from an article in Chinese. The English article below, though, has many great photos. https://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2018/05/over-90-ancient-tombs-discovered-insw.html?fbclid=IwAR35OI5-RzPTG31QRb47tEBkan1VPlbEYCWP4BD1TG7xUCWC2mJVT7ncqU#pdjv0pXDrBe1iVdI.97 39. Henan archaeologists are now convinced that the tomb found in Anyang in 2009 is that of Cao Cao. They have also discovered that it is part of a larger tomb complex. https://www.scmp.com/news/china/society/article/2138951/archaeologists-confident-they-have-found-bodyfabled-chinese?fbclid=IwAR0iaGr52YnHwExTMMTGwYPSyngHsBbAuXByAEr3wRUQXnpCAnzOaqureg 40. In the Tianfu xinqu area of Chengdu, archaeologists have excavated more than 200 cliff tombs that date from the Eastern Han and the Six Dynasties periods. Many of the Eastern Han tombs are large and multi-chambered. Some include stove platforms. In contrast, Six Dynasties tombs are small and could only accommodate the burial of one person. Despite the looting, the tombs still yielded many pottery figurines and vessels and some bronze pieces. This is a photo essay that shows some of the tombs of the grave goods found in them. http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/201801/19/c_136906664.htm?fbclid=IwAR1kO0Z2Z8BX7lzWV3qT8pB8FZIkTWPQKjY3PpGWNDAbEuqN09Z5YiQdX4 41. While creating its new campus in an eastern suburb of Taiyuan, Shanxi University discovered three Western Jin (265-316) tombs. One tomb had multiple chambers, while the other two were merely single chamber ones. All three had been heavily looted; they yielded only a modicum of grave goods, such pieces of pottery and a few bronze mirrors. Nevertheless, these tombs are important because Western Jin tombs are incredibly scarce in Shanxi. These are only the third set of Western Jin tombs found in the province; all of which have been located near Taiyuan. http://kaogu.net.cn/cn/xccz/20180507/61873.html?fbclid=IwAR02oHHgsjQ6guiPXvbeu_fCrZ3MUWg0CmtB _4MHM1SqwufYke-FuNngBq0 42. In Wanrong County, farmers doing irrigation work discovered a large, late Northern Wei tomb. It belonged to the Regional Inspector of Fenzhou, Xue Huaiji 薛怀吉 (d. 523), which is made clear from the tomb inscription found in the grave. The grave has been repeatedly looted and suffered much damage from the initial discovery. Fragments of a large number of warrior figurines were found. 10 Perhaps most important has been the discovery of Xue Huaiji's tomb inscription, which is over 660 characters long. http://kaogu.cssn.cn/zwb/xccz/201807/t20180719_4506292.shtml?fbclid=IwAR0kGarq_rvVKfhW00BjCkcTHi-O3WhyKSU4j4R12Djv4JBCRS6HgmUL5s 43. On the Eastern Mountain campus of Shanxi University in Taiyuan, archaeologists have discovered the tomb of the great Eastern Wei general Meng Hong 孟鸿 who died in 549 and was buried in 562. Happily the burial chamber has a tomb inscription that describes the posts he held, as well as over 90 grave goods, such as an iron mirrors, inkstone, clamshells, coins, a lacquered box, pottery, and a wide variety of clay figurines. The find will shed light on the history of Jinyang (Taiyuan), which at the time was called the Hegemon's headquarters 霸府 or the Other Capital 別都. http://kaogu.cssn.cn/zwb/xccz/201812/t20181212_4792326.shtml?fbclid=IwAR0CvhrZ6eXT877jumbaGI Qg92LW9tWborOz6rUJkXU4cogV7aHBviTBvxY Sui/Tang 44. In Linxi County, Hebei, archaeologists discovered a mid-Tang dynasty brick bed. The bed is in the 壶 门床 style. (If I'm getting this right, it means that the shape in between the bed supports are in the shape of a pitcher?) The 128 bricks that make up the bed are beautifully carved with wave patterns. http://kaogu.net.cn/en/News/New_discoveries/2018/0428/61815.html?fbclid=IwAR0VOjAvSeFJQQYLL Ml3ThsIUxYmltDqMDePEsMD5aeHxTKjsaQ6oscdsBs Song/Yuan 45. 460 kilos of bronze coins have been found in Weinan, Shaanxi. Although some Tang coins have been found in the hoard, the great majority are Song Dynasty (960-1279) coins. Given the great number of coins, archaeologists think that they were a bank's stash that was buried in times of chaos. https://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2018/11/ancient-coins-weighing-460-kg-foundin.html?spref=fb&fbclid=IwAR0knc_fdN7zLPEnqrdDjwgSYDZACZEOHDCYDc8JQCTTSUqBrztO6 e9PYv8#aLPSgPaBvuRIUuxH.97 46. In the northern Sri Lankan city of Jaffna, archaeologists from the Shanghai Museum and the Sri Lankan Central Cultural Foundation have jointly excavated a site. They have uncovered over 650 pottery shards there, of which over 600 are from China. Most of the pottery vessels discovered at the site are from present-day Guangdong and Fujian provinces and date to the Northern Song period. According to the archaeologists, this indicates the important role the port played in the maritime Silk Road. http://kaogu.cssn.cn/zwb/xccz/201810/t20181010_4667475.shtml?fbclid=IwAR1pZctssFhIpeOVupVkPm dabk0QIBSQJB-o4DRPwuFStCoV6uNCTzjaV14 11 47. In Nanling County, Anhui Province, archaeologists excavated a 900 year old tomb, which contained a well preserved and well-provided for Northern Song skeleton, which still has fingernails and hair. The tomb occupant had silver and gold hairpins in her hair, silver bracelets on her arms, 83 coins around her waist, and two zongzi in her right hand. On her coffin is a banner that reads Grand Lady of Ankang Commandery. The tomb also has a model courtyard house. https://www.cnbeta.com/articles/science/777701.htm?fbclid=IwAR2Br_zd5rLxd6mLrzFEArnnyTcGpj3usIgCoPsCv5XV3_oYku0oAHOe0o https://www.livescience.com/63826-grand-lady-skeleton-china.html https://www.livescience.com/63825-photos-grand-ladytomb.html?fbclid=IwAR2lOGLdk0h3N3m9VHKJSB8laLjYA6DO4N5TY7DaHcdukmIJRu04ksYG3O0 48. Along the River Arkhara in Amur Oblast, Manchuria (far eastern Russia), possibly the earliest inscription in Nuzhen script from around 1127 has been found written in ink on rock face. A scholar who has examined the inscription in situ has offered a translation of it. https://babelstone.blogspot.com/2018/03/jurchen-inscription-on-riverarkhara.html?fbclid=IwAR01SG_PpPvkpjB0o53PRW0aV3U7HDvZ75j1nR79nySLMrxQp0aYQgxEo9Q · 49. In Antu County Jilin, archaeologists have partially excavated the city site of Baoma, which existed during the Jin dynasty . A large building complex with a rammed-earth platform in the city's southeast corner was excavated this season. The rammed-earth platform was nearly 19 meters long and 12 meters wide. The building on top of it had a jagged rock ramp and inside of it a square-brick paved floor. It also had a hearth, flue, and chimney. The article includes a couple of photographs. http://kaogu.net.cn/en/News/New_discoveries/2018/0123/60817.html?fbclid=IwAR3eiohj2P2esXolWTSL9_y Hc-xtT7mnrOdLF4ei44vwGLANIVKhqNGQrSk · 50. A large and well-conceived Southern Song (1127-1279) cemetery has been excavated in Shaoxing, Zhejiang. It is thought to be a royal cemetery especially since it is only six kilometers from the six mausoleums of the Southern Song emperors. There are also the ruins of the cemetery's temple, which is only 150 meters away. Lots of photos. https://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2018/07/southern-song-dynastycemetery.html?fbclid=IwAR0hKcyano-Z7wi_zmyXcHeQ0wpZmEN4KqyPzjCyMP6wKKehN1ypWBsL14#z7ziooWwmV8qUFMH.97 51. Archaeologists have discovered a well-preserved Yuan dynasty mural tomb in Yangquan, Shanxi. It has daily life scenes as well as two filial piety stories, which the writer describes as morbid tales in the article's titles. Yup, the filial piety stories are chock full of surprises, which is why I have made a cottage industry out of them. https://www.livescience.com/63301-ancient-morbid-mural-tombchina.html?utm_source=notification&fbclid=IwAR15RphlCV_52XRaXucXWVFyFrNL1gXVye14mci7MtIK 9D1wnzZmyrQCDEE 12 Here are some more photos of the Yuan dynasty tomb in Yangquan, Shanxi. https://www.livescience.com/63293-photos-ancient-mural-tombchina.html?fbclid=IwAR29SUitw32Bs820BTAMYB6gZ53GfPwtXRJVuOCDag-l6aQ9ImTSidswPCE 52. In Wuwei, Gansu, at the rich Haimu 亥母寺 site, more fragments of Xixia text have been found, along with a Qing Shunzhi reign period mail delivery bag. Over ten-thousand caca 擦擦 have been found at this site. These are small-shaped statures or pagodas, which have a sheet of scripture stuffed inside of them. They were offerings. Besides the caca, there are also fragments of texts in Chinese, Tibetan, and Xixia language. There are also fragments of the _New History of the Tang_. http://kaogu.net.cn/cn/xccz/20180619/62289.html?fbclid=IwAR2PBSXTN9ckp5A4xFR93WKpH49aCm QXr1qETwVIt-yDQO7clL_jouAyOhM 53. Here is a long summary of what was discovered through the excavation of the Daoist Dashangqinggong 大上清宮 site on top of the Longhu Mountains in Jiangxi, near the city of Yingtan. Lots of photographs. http://kaogu.net.cn/cn/xccz/20180201/60973.html?fbclid=IwAR02N1czoA3Jq1mhHqwyBdoOc4pcU6f5k VAH3XtJoomX6SzlAmWK6N8sxDw Ming/Qing 54. In Datong, Shanxi, a team from the Cultural Relics Bureau discovered within the old city of Datong a large number of walls bricks that date to the Hongwu reign period of the Ming. Many of the bricks have inscriptions. Many of the bricks date to the fourth or fifth year of Zhu Yuanzhang's reign. http://kaogu.net.cn/cn/xccz/20180410/61618.html?fbclid=IwAR3Q6UdosKqXB96mbegE4ZUEvd_Oa7X64gh m_SqakeYOyhkAHpI2ykEvYqc 55. Mid-Ming dynasty Buddhist grottoes found in Suide County, Shaanxi. Archaeologists discovered two worshiping grottoes, three niches for Buddhist statues, and a dormitory for monks. Two of the niches date to the mid-Tang. One of the grottoes had an Eastern Han door. http://kaogu.cssn.cn/ywb/news/new_discoveries_1/201810/t20181010_4667503.shtml?fbclid=IwAR3xOm46 HzjYif80VPiG5Qq4isSOENaQCbdck1PlmsUJI-s8_zolPIKhNHI 56. The remains of the Ming dynasty city of Enjiang 恩江 have been discovered in Jiangxi's Yongfen county. About 3,000 meters of the city wall remains, along with traces of eight city gates. The city's main road aligns with the gates. Both sides of the road has drainage canals. Many porcelain sherds from the Tang-Song and Yuan-Ming period have been found there. https://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2018/06/ming-dynasty-city-found-injiangxi.html?fbclid=IwAR0A-e3VBWiqu-Tk1nHdNZzWPLY5vHQ__xmvpurI96PhfADoISObrbhc1k#UQQoUi4wqiw0fBwV.97 13 57. An article on the Buddhist statue in Jiangxi that emerged as the water level of a reservoir dropped. http://kaogu.net.cn/en/News/Academic_activities/2017/0123/56951.html?fbclid=IwAR2ypUkB3R6cEO2 WXn7Etvvp4IPvnlVATzUEaiOihrgz7NxgLmQufbi0bzc Japan Jomon 58. This is a reconstruction of a 27,000 year old skeleton found in Okinawa. http://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/AJ201804210040.html 59. A reconstruction of a 4,000 year old woman's face based on the DNA extracted from one of her molars. The DNA even provided information about her skin and eye color. http://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/AJ201803120039.html 60. A nice summary of the achievements of Japan's paleolithic people -- the Jomon. Great photos of Jomon artifacts as well. https://www.apollo-magazine.com/precocious-potters-ancient-japanjomon/?fbclid=IwAR1afOTcNTY0yY8U97T3EJt89DrJDhjXSIke30I0omqAkgX-VECuPHxHwbA 61. Bagging sea lions and red sea bream in small boats was a good workout for the arms of Jomon men from Aichi. https://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2018/09/voyages-gave-aichi-men-biggest-armsin.html?spref=fb&fbclid=IwAR2n8h-7519lTfqmP4vpxfzdNkgtHgbybX0UNGABBHE9PANgXFJ20kPjXs#DRwq3zxUGjo9VUWf.97 62. Danish and Japanese researchers have put together the whole genome of a Jomon woman. The study undertaken by the researchers compared her genome with those of Neolithic skeletons found in Southeast Asia. The Jomon woman was most closely related to prehistoric populations in Laos and Malaysia. The research also indicates that Neolithic hunter-gathering people living in Southeast Asia were not replaced by rice and millet farmers coming from what is now China; instead, even though there were waves of migration from northern farmers, they did not entirely replace the original inhabitants who proved to be adaptable to the new way of life. https://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2018/08/prehistoric-peopling-in-southeastasia.html?spref=fb&fbclid=IwAR0FAYt2ACeYVhdx7Kn4dLYeTo9JUO4NchAbCcc3DV_qOiVJgIGzRmMx YIo#IiQjMKZ7RtzXYMp2.97 63. In the city of Toyohashi, in Aichi Japan, archaeologists have excavated a huge mid-Jomon period shell midden. There are also what looks to be stone furnaces that might have been used to process the clams. There are so many shells that the archaeologists who excavated the site speculate that the clams processed there might have been trade objects. This would mean that there was a shell trade network some 4,500 years ago in Japan. 14 https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2018/01/22/national/rare-prehistoric-shell-mound-aichi-japan-suggestspossible-mid-jomon-shell-trade/#.XC4L-lVKiUn Yayoi/Kofun 64. The fragments of a 2,000 year old Yayoi pot has etchings of wooden structures on stilts with raised roofs. They also have ornamental cornices similar to those found on Shinto shrine gables. I've personally seen a bunch of similar artifacts with images of buildings like this, but I guess this particular one is older than the ones I have seen in Nara Prefecture. http://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/AJ201803240031.html 65. A Yayoi period pottery shard found on an island near the northwestern corner of Kyushu, Japan, has the Chinese character Zhou 周 etched on it. https://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2018/01/pottery-shard-holds-ancient-exampleof.html?fbclid=IwAR0Zklco_cAKcxeCQdlkN7lxu6zR1YY9n5RXgLeIa5SeeCLAn3XDVWWh1cE#zPbPVxf pG6P5cA1J.97 66. In Fukuoka, Japan, archaeologists have discovered five ink stones from the mid to late third century CE. What is especially surprising is that they were not found in the ruins of a palace, bur rather in the remains of a commercial area. This suggests that merchants or officials watching over the market were already using writing to conduct business. https://www.nishinippon.co.jp/nnp/culture/article/467782/?fbclid=IwAR03BX_r8AytpQ11FkNl5T7yT36hwc Kb4enCVL2ITsJc-BxeuOCDqgldw7A 67. Archaeologists will be allowed to dig some trenches along the embankment of the moat that immediately surrounds the mound of the Nintoku ryo -- the largest Kofun in Japan. However, scholars won't be allowed to conduct major work on the mound itself. https://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2018/10/excavations-begin-at-giant-burialmound.html?spref=fb&fbclid=IwAR0d3bOtVefUw5DCUDrzYBoWWEikngHdawqe6Sn8EXN_oR6L60TSRKsd-4#RU 68. "Ichinose said he estimated the mounded tomb to have been covered by about 50 million stones. “But if a stone pavement also existed in the dikes, the time and effort devoted to collect the stones and carry them must have been immense,” he said." https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2018/11/23/national/stone-pavement-find-daisun-kofun-japans-largestancient-tomb-makes-overwhelmingly-unique/?fbclid=IwAR3fCuc1-uxrKbJed0B2YQGvJre6u0xQ8_CPCALTkgNm8yubbmXMf1J1oY#.XC1n2lVKiUm 69. By measuring the sludge in the moat around Japan's biggest mounded tomb, scholars have determined that the Daisen Kofun was originally 525 meters long, rather than its present length of 486 meters. https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2018/04/352c27c129c0-japans-largest-mounded-tomb-may-be-largerthan-previously-thought.html 15 · 70. Okayama, Japan, archaeologists have begun to excavate an unlooted mounded tomb. The article contains a video clip of an interview with a first year master's student who discovered a bronze mirror that has been broken in half. http://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/AJ201803280004.html?fbclid=IwAR0OoFm9NvlAVGUeNgVLzbyc55o5T6Uj8up3luXfMCcEhWHQ3WLlcnNJXU 71. In Shibushi, Kagoshima Prefecture, road work uncovered a Kofun era tunnel tomb. The tomb contains a stone coffin and more grave goods than any other tunnel-tombs in this region. Among the grave goods was a perfectly preserved cuirass breastplate, as well as a sword and other weapons. The skeletal remains of the tomb occupant indicate that he was nearly 5 feet 7 inches tall. http://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/AJ201802140003.html?fbclid=IwAR3w53Xmcmj92r_bxvtcy0tiSlYR71Dx fJ2Cd77VPnMhLow4qqxtviiacbE Nara/Heian 72. A wooden slip unearthed in Tottori was probably a scapegoat doll used in Shinto purification rituals. It was created sometime between the 7th and 10th centuries. The slip is supposed to be an image of the Buddhist deity Nyorai. The same site yielded a wooden panel from the late seventh or early eighth century that has a group of women similar to that found in the Takamatsuzuka burial mound in Asuka, Nara Prefecture. http://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/AJ201803290001.html 73. At the Hachiya ruins in Japan's Shiga Prefecture, archaeologists discovered seventh-century roof-tiles decorated with flower-like ornaments. Tiles with this exact same pattern were also found at the Horyuji Temple in Nara. It is thought that the Hachiya tiles were created using the same wooden molds that were used at Horyuji, meaning that the two temples had a close relationship. https://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2018/12/roof-tiles-with-flower-patternsfound.html?fbclid=IwAR2diP_APrNomwNueLNudIc9kVrDtdqtF0EaskIUAFBEr4bSqEuUyFwyZE#IzPxSTHzmsmhUVia.97 74. Three seventh century reliquary jars, made of copper, silver, and gold were discovered in a pagoda in Nara. http://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/AJ201811150052.html?fbclid=IwAR2ALk8hseAOzJom3qu5bzojUpJ 9trfLWZJnHXzn8lAB9x-td9j1ky5Zxo0 75. This image was probably created around 711 AD. http://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/AJ201803110028.html 76. In Nara at the Heijo palace ruins, archaeologists discovered the remains of a large well, which appears to have been connected with a building that was a palace cooking facility. 16 http://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/AJ201801080003.html 77. A detached palace of the early eighth century was built perilously close to a river in Nara Prefecture, Japan. Perhaps this was done to take advantage of the beautiful waterfront view. https://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2018/06/ruins-of-ancient-palace-likelyfound.html?fbclid=IwAR1OVa0eR3AVGVSfxW2OaSaRm88mo8PaQ5iwAreZRkLBL7Z69LC5CgDHME#YxlJ8YtH9UcEaOtk.97 78. The ninth century residence of a Heian princess has been found in Kyoto. The foundations of two large buildings have been found, as well as a ceramic plate with the word "sai" written in ink on it. It was probably the home of a princess who held the title of sai-o. http://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/AJ201804150004.html?fbclid=IwAR17OMZLc_69SdIgKYiQgQEOHEVQiLHf8oNU7ZKJ7U6L8ow00pQF6lLb2o 79. A late Nara early Heian kiln for firing roof tiles was found in Japan's Kashihara, Nara Prefecture. The kiln was on the grounds of the Toshodaiji temple, so the temple complex had its own kiln. http://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/AJ201803120001.html 80. An X-ray CT scan has revealed the existence of a tiny carving of a Buddha (just over an inch high) and offering table within a small late Heian (794-1185) charm that was worn around the neck. http://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/AJ201803090001.html?fbclid=IwAR33XGw8RkBcjKj1uUUvI6gU0R pHsJPt7KNwpdZuxdGUcd42TQBMBWkCqpg Post-Heian 81. A restored 800 year-old (early Kamakura) drum has been unveiled at the Nara National Museum. This drum was used during Bugaku (court music) performances and is embedded in an elaborate sculpture. http://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/AJ201804060036.html?fbclid=IwAR2BUnAugvBpE_zEdVsIIGdL86 OgOMgMpz80XSsEmLpSP2vYAALl_2HO-6U 82. In Kumagaya, Japan, a ceramic jug from the first half of the 15th century was found with perhaps 260,000 bronze coins. Archaeologists have only studied 70 of this coins, but of these 19 were from China. A wooden tablet was discovered at the edge of the lid of the jug. On it was written "260," may mean 260 kan (one kan is a thousand coins). http://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/AJ201803270001.html?fbclid=IwAR3JAZAPHq6FTaoWbzrWZqLksj_6gBuBMNLIwlnGfXW0lLPKavIKPj_Naw Korea 83. South Korean archaeologists have discovered in a cave the world's oldest net sinkers. They are 29,000 years old. It was thought that net sinkers were an East Asian Neolithic innovation. But this discovery shows that Paleolithic people in the Korean peninsula were already using nets to catch fish. 17 https://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2018/08/worlds-oldest-fishing-net-sinkersfound.html?spref=fb&fbclid=IwAR1sX7CUjJutB_s_ERxgSsW79qAn3oybCrbPpxSA9f1nvR8BkyQFow tWV0U#z5dtS0h8Mpex8p97.97 84. Archaeologists have found the sixth-century CE remains of the palace of the Ara Gaya, a past citystate in southern South Korea. Ara Gaya was part of the Gaya Confederacy. The ramparts of the palace were 8.5 meters tall and 20 to 40 meters thick. https://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2018/06/remains-of-possible-sixthcentury.html?fbclid=IwAR0295_SLVulOc_Kq9d_KmdjZqL278EyaT0VAp7q5Cn0osmkmRfDadq2Kw#whH36iPRcviuU7Rc.97 Central Asia, Mongolia, Tibet 85. “Wild horses still populate Yakutia today, but the foal belonged to an extinct species that lived in the region 30,000 to 40,000 years ago, Grigoryev told The Siberian Times. Known as the Lena horse (Equus caballus lenensis), that ancient species was genetically distinct from modern horses in the region, Grigoryev said.” https://www.livescience.com/63430-preserved-ancient-foal-siberia.html 86. A 7,700 years old rock face. Looks like a skull with a hair brush underneath. Found just north of Chifeng in Inner Mongolia. https://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2018/07/carved-stone-in-inner-mongolia-saidto.html?fbclid=IwAR0OMP1btbgDd0nizBZTKhY5ZxMDvozNpWzSJUPLVBGL-CKI7Aj60hKDJ0#KEzs4o6f3UBSxdWB.97 87. A DNA analysis of Bronze Age Mongolians suggests that they were consuming dairy goods from cows, goats, and sheep some 3,300 years ago. Since there is no DNA evidence of large-scale migration of Western Asians to the eastern steppe, the scientists who conducted this study believe that the dairy pastoralism was transmitted to Bronze Age Mongolians by cultural processes. https://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2018/11/oldest-evidence-of-dairying-oneast.html?spref=fb&fbclid=IwAR37MouyEo_ILXgFNqDrMulsE7mdl4aix4MVbfaTQ8lgOcGaR_dis5CFfN8# ctVZdWOeTuo2IPQb.97 88. Heads of toys found in the tomb of a child in southern Siberia. The article also talks about other similar toys that have been found elsewhere in Siberia from about the same time. Lots of good photos. https://siberiantimes.com/science/casestudy/news/magical-new-4500-year-old-finds-add-to-oldest-toycollection-in-theworld/?fbclid=IwAR35mqUW8xxx43FnzSbLRAndxqE_gr46kmt1HsPQ_8cZy6yDmja27QRQef8#.WlqzKBR U0i4.facebook 18 89. Another interesting find from Kazakhstan. Archaeologists excavated two five-thousand years old graves in the Karaganda region. Both tombs contained a man and woman couple. The archaeologists who uncovered the graves are not sure whether the couples were lovers in this life, or that a member of the opposite sex was sacrificed to be a mate in the afterlife for the main tomb occupant. Nor is it clear that the woman was sacrificed for the man, or the man for the woman. The couple was well-todo -- the male was buried with a quiver of arrows and a metal dagger, while the woman wears a bracelet of semi-precious stones. The other "Romeo and Juliet" tomb is a box that is made to look like a chariot pulled by two sacrificed horses. https://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2018/07/5000-year-old-grave-with-romeoand.html?fbclid=IwAR0Quq8XmjcKAxGArk4vVStAM4-SFFw0Rv7LW7dKro3JtkwxGlsi1xadiY#09yp3MsyKdZ2bxv6.97 90. Members of the Deer Stone-Khirigsuur Culture (ca. 1300-700 BCE) appear to have been the first people to develop veterinary dental skills for treating horses. These people might have been the first horse-riders, which led to the development of horse dentistry. There was probably little joy in riding a horse with a toothache. https://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2018/07/oldest-evidence-of-horseveterinary.html?fbclid=IwAR0txkxO4Kr2UAG5J868Z7d5htjKoZK2QJlVCTJqixTV_tFZnak5RvrJow#oe2IGDbWik7h8T0p.97 91. A 1,900 or 2000 year old tomb of a Xiongnu woman was found in a dried up Siberian reservoir this past week. Despite being immersed in water at times, the tomb remains were very well preserved. Among her grave goods was a Chinese bronze mirror in a birch-bark make-up box. The body has been partially mummified with the lower part of the deceased being particularly well preserved -- her skin and clothing are intact. She wore a silk skirt that had a beaded belt with a buckle made of a jet gemstone. Thanks Petya Andreeva. https://siberiantimes.com/science/others/news/2000-year-old-mummified-sleeping-beauty-dressed-in-silkemerges-from-siberian-reservoir/?fbclid=IwAR0vmckgQ-GNJF717rrjs-TZYT50GgChaapBAaOCx3h4bYHEOs64VjD3BI · 92. 1,700 year old jaw harps made of bone have been found in the Altai mountains. Thanks Christopher Atwood. https://siberiantimes.com/science/casestudy/news/ancient-jews-harps-found-in-altai-mountains-as-musicalinstruments-reappear-after-1700-years/ 93. A very old (ninth century B.C.) and large, unlooted kurgan has been found in the Uyuk Valley just northwest of Mongolia. It is perhaps a royal burial of the Scythians. https://www.livescience.com/61432-frozen-scythian-tombsiberia.html?utm_source=notification&fbclid=IwAR3ZLYKJwY4MhKyUAxPaNmJbKTTz-pqyWsjhxrDeqMQQJNZ3S5SIK4oygI 19 94. Archaeologists have excavated an 8th or 7th century BCE tomb in the Tarbagatai Mountains in East Kazakhstan. What they discovered was the body of a young man who was 17 or 18 years old and about 5'5" in height. He was mummified and wore golden clothes that had attached golden beads. He also had a dagger in a golden scabbard and a gold torc around his neck. He was obviously a young man of very high status. https://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2018/08/burial-mound-in-kazakhstanyields.html?spref=fb&fbclid=IwAR0ti6cv-gwmReWkbB9fnq0Xu8MKxAMq1ajlZprRAUwZch0rzudD7KkXrA#06SDR23RTET1RRqJ.97 95. In eastern Kazakhstan's Tarbagatai mountains, archaeologists discovered 3,000 precious items in a burial mound, which they believe belong to royal or elite couple of the Saka people. Among the items, gold beads that were found were made with sophisticated micro-soldering techniques. https://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2018/07/2800-year-old-royal-goldjewellery.html?fbclid=IwAR020vipscbPJslyjibEE1EOz-fkY9HexGwogyR56_dOBksui0syusFzC8#KUePayx8AIyVFg6L.97 96. In Inner Mongolia's Urad Middle Banner, archaeologists discovered the ruins of a Xiongnu city. It dates to the Eastern Han (25-220 CE) dynasty. It is just 1.3 kilometers northwest of a section of the Great Wall that was built in the Eastern Han. The archaeologists who excavated the site believe it was established for the Southern Xiongnu who had surrendered to the Eastern Han. There were probably one hundred residences within the city, which were all laid out in neat rows, not unlike the military camps of the non-Han northerners. Pottery remains were decorated by bow string and wave patterns, which followed Xiongnu usage. The city covered 210 hectares. The site even has the remains of a large tent that was 32 meters in diameter. http://kaogu.net.cn/en/News/New_discoveries/2018/0306/61255.html?fbclid=IwAR2id0tvhgyqlmfGbnBdxQY qw4jD40lewd4A99rEpIeDKvYBwhdmhQKjo2k 97. Near the Tamir and Orhon rivers in Mongolia, Chinese and Mongolian archaeologists have discovered a three part (Sanlian) Xiongnu city, which probably lasted from the third century BCE to the first century. All three parts are built in the same rectangular shape. A 36 meter long red sand pedestal has been found in the central city. Archaeologists haven't been able to locate ashes or heating facilities, so to what degree it was a ritual site or an actual city is in doubt. http://kaogu.net.cn/en/News/New_discoveries/2018/0118/60774.html?fbclid=IwAR1_IX_hKAFd_GnB5ADA F-ET8v0awzuqWplVhqLdXXnJlo7HYCJ1tYPizJo 98. The remains of a Buddhist mural has been found at Kara Tee, which is in southern Uzbekistan, not far from Bamiyan, Aghanistan. The mural dates to either the second or third century CE and may represent the life of the Buddha. https://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2018/11/mural-found-in-uzbekistan-givesfresh.html?spref=fb&fbclid=IwAR1iESJNsVSt0pTGUvOsx5TwTkLk_UG-B8vhg9LcJ3cYfNrPUMz1EU8JnE#abFx4dVikk5dDDZs.97 20 99. "The new study demonstrates dietary differences between urban settlements along the Silk Road, yet similarities among the people in those settlements. Nomads, on the other hand, had a much more diverse diet. Hermes notes that this may reflect "a combination of environment and cultural choices that influenced diet across the Silk Roads." https://www.forbes.com/sites/kristinakillgrove/2018/03/26/silk-road-skeletons-shatter-assumptions-aboutancient-diet/?fbclid=IwAR0vW7gtUg_aYt0DAwE8tnaDE5vUee4CrkfTjTnjScMeyDgQhcQB5dAm1w#60186e1937aa 100. In the foothills of the Tianshan mountains in China's present day Xinjiang province, using a drone, archaeologists have discovered a sophisticated irrigation system that was created by agropastoralists. This type of irrigation system probably originated in western Asia. https://www.livescience.com/61408-silk-road-helped-irrigate-desert.html 101. A ninth-century stele found in northern Tibet, which has an inscribed image of the Buddha. On its left hand side it has 24 lines of old Tibetan; the right hand side has nineteen lines of Buddhist prayers. It was probably set up by the Tubo kingdom in 826 or 838. https://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2018/01/oldest-buddhist-stele-discoveredin.html?fbclid=IwAR0pTrhJ1BJk6INvzuuV34rYczsP69XEbwQjYp3vzXA_fF5Hn524Mc2a5A#36xypOxC6EhaQ580.97 https://www.outlookindia.com/newsscroll/oldest-buddhist-stele-discovered-intibet/1225941?fbclid=IwAR3A9zsbaZhjRroXt-85kvC5R6N_yRYkxOPB1drtyjTCwjTA_JWp5STtY3A 102. This is a great video of a reconstruction of a temple at Karakorum, the capital of the Mongolian empire. Thanks Gwen Bennett. http://www.culthernews.de/?p=1089&fbclid=IwAR2Ig3XH6G9geJHoTsZzZBNR_pNB3Vq6HX_kcizrU 5is2fz81PCyv3lVNws 21