The ancients skillfully placed a “dragon” up to 1.7 meters long and a “tiger” about 1.4 meters long lying on either side of the body to protect the grave owner.
“Dragon and tiger” guard the tomb for a thousand years
Dragon is an animal in Chinese mythology and is the totem of the country of billions of people. Although the dragon is a bogus animal, its image is often associated with the “nine-five supreme” authority of kings. Even the question of when the dragon image appeared has caused a headache for Chinese historians.
In May 1987, workers on the Tay Thuy Pha construction site in Boc Duong, Ha Nam province were working hard when they found a lot of human skeletons, the person in charge saw an abnormality, so immediately Inform everyone to stop the construction and report the situation to the local cultural relic management board.
Inside the ancient tomb excavated at Tay Thuy Pha. Image: Zhihu
After surveying, experts determined that this is a group of ancient tombs, including tombs and relics from the Yang Shao period (about 5000 BC – 3000 BC) to the end of the Western Han Dynasty.
As part of these tombs were destroyed, the Department of Cultural Relics of Henan Province immediately organized an archaeological team to conduct rescue excavations. No one thought that this excavation would create such a big shock in the world of Chinese archeology and culture.
In October 1987, the archaeological team cleaned up tomb number M45. Here, they found a lot of seashells around the grave owner’s remains. During the Yangtze period, shells were used as currency, and it is not unusual to find shells in tombs.
Illustration
“Dragon coiled tiger sitting”
The scene unfolding before the archaeological team’s eyes is extremely impressive and amazing. It is a dragon up to 1.7 meters long and a tiger about 1.5 meters long shaped from seashells lying on the sides of the skeleton. Looking down from above, this image is even more real and vivid as if these beasts were real.
According to calculations, dating to the M45 tomb is 6,400 years ago, the dragon made of shells in the mausoleum is the earliest dragon image discovered in China. This dragon is 1.7 meters long, with a curved back and head, very powerful, not very different from the dragon we see today.
Close-up image of two divine beasts made from seashells. Image: Kknews
This tomb is currently being very carefully protected by the government and has become a tourist attraction. Image: QQ
Before this discovery, many people think that archaeologists are “overdoing it” because these are just uncomplicated blocks created from seashells and are not surprising.
But experts assert that dragons are inherently bogus animals, who painted the image of this animal, why is it deified only the monarch dares to use it and the “dragon” has from when. All are mysteries and this discovery is gradually bringing humanity to the answer.
Top-down top view map of the mausoleum. Image: Kknews
Therefore, the new excavation has shocked both archeology and Chinese culture because so far, this is the “oldest dragon” found in the country of billions of people.
Naturally, the identity of the owner of the tomb made experts extremely curious but equally a headache because there are no relics in the mausoleum that can prove the identity of the tomb owner.
So far, the true identity of the grave owner remains a mystery, but one thing cannot be doubted: The owner of the tomb must have been a great figure in history!