Chinese archaeologists have discovered 62 sets of human remains buried in household clay containers dating back two millennia. The remains were found in Tongzhou, a sub-center of Beijing.

Urn burial customs dictated that corpses be housed in two to three large clay containers, such as urns, pots and bowls. The custom was previously thought to have been only for children, but the new discovery included the remains of 23 adults, which is the largest-scale such discovery in China to date.

The revelation is significant in helping archaeologists understand the burial customs of people living in Tongzhou during the late Warring States Period (475BC-221BC) and the Han Dynasty (202BC-220AD).

Pieces of pottery, tiles and animal bones were also unearthed, according to reports.