Chinese Made World's Earliest Water Closet: ExpertsA water closet built some 2,000 years ago is believed to be the world's earliest lavatory with running water and seating.The toilet, discovered in a stone tomb of a King of the West Han Dynasty (206 BC to 24 AD), is about two sq. meters and is part of the underground palace of its wealthy owner who believed that his soul would need to enjoy the human life after death. "This top-grade stool is the earliest of its kind ever discovered in the world, meaning that the Chinese used the world's earliest water closet which is quite like what we are using today, " said a group of archaeologists in a recent report on the study of the tomb. Made out of stones, the stool even has a comfortable armrest. "It was an great invention and a symbol of social civilization of that time," said the experts. The tomb is in the Mangdang Hill in Shangqiu of central China's Henan province, where archaeologists discovered some 72 other tombs of the West Han dynasty and a valuable jacket made of golden thread and jade pieces. The experts also announced that the tomb of a queen consort there is the biggest stone tomb in the world, at a length of 210.5 meters and 1,600 sq. m. in total area and consisting of more than 30 rooms including corridors, bathroom, toilet, kitchen and an ice- storing kiosk. |
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