China unveils highest-level Chu state tomb excavated to date

Archaeologists work at the Wuwangdun tomb discovered in Huainan, east China's Anhui Province, April 6, 2024. (National Cultural Heritage Administration/Handout via Xinhua)

HEFEI, April 16 (Xinhua) -- The Wuwangdun tomb excavated in east China's Anhui Province has been confirmed as the largest and highest-level tomb from ancient Chu state dating back over 2,200 years, the National Cultural Heritage Administration said Tuesday.

The administration made the announcement at a press conference in Huainan City, adding that the tomb discovered in Huainan is the most structurally complex of its kind.

Archaeologists focused on excavating the main vertical earth-pit tomb, confirming it as a large structure housing a wooden chambered burial area.

Researchers conducted on-site protection and multi-disciplinary studies of the unearthed artifacts, reinforcing and extracting fragile objects like the chamber planks, bamboo mats and lacquerware.

Concurrent analyses included carbon-14 dating, wood species identification, infrared analysis of the inscriptions, and material and manufacturing studies of the lacquerware and textiles.

The administration vowed to continue archaeological work, artifact preservation and interdisciplinary research at Wuwangdun, aiming to shed light on late Warring States Period Chu rituals, craftsmanship and cultural achievements.

The Warring States Period ran from 475 B.C. to 221 B.C.

This file photo shows a lacquerware unearthed from the Wuwangdun tomb discovered in Huainan, east China's Anhui Province. (National Cultural Heritage Administration/Handout via Xinhua)

This picture shows the layout of outer coffin at the main tomb after slabs were removed in the Wuwangdun tomb discovered in Huainan, east China's Anhui Province. (Anhui provincial cultural relics and archaeology research institute/Handout via Xinhua)

Staff members operate a crane to lift a outer coffin slab of the Wuwangdun tomb discovered in Huainan, east China's Anhui Province, April 14, 2024. (National Cultural Heritage Administration/Handout via Xinhua)

This combo picture shows bronzewares unearthed from the Wuwangdun tomb discovered in Huainan, east China's Anhui Province. (Anhui provincial cultural relics and archaeology research institute/Handout via Xinhua)

This picture shows cultural relics unearthed from the Wuwangdun tomb discovered in Huainan, east China's Anhui Province. (Anhui provincial cultural relics and archaeology research institut/Handout via Xinhua)

This picture shows the layout of outer coffin at the main tomb after slabs were removed in the Wuwangdun tomb discovered in Huainan, east China's Anhui Province. (National Cultural Heritage Administration/Handout via Xinhua)

A staff member maintains a lacquerware unearthed from the Wuwangdun tomb discovered in Huainan, east China's Anhui Province. (National Cultural Heritage Administration/Handout via Xinhua)

This photo taken on April 16, 2024 shows a meeting held by China's National Cultural Heritage Administration in Huainan City, east China's Anhui Province, introducing the latest progress on the excavation of Wuwangdun tomb. (Xinhua/Li He)

This combo picture shows lacquerwares unearthed from the Wuwangdun tomb discovered in Huainan, east China's Anhui Province. (Anhui provincial cultural relics and archaeology research institute/Handout via Xinhua)

This picture shows inscriptions on the slabs of the main tomb of the Wuwangdun tomb discovered in Huainan, east China's Anhui Province. (Anhui provincial cultural relics and archaeology research institute/Handout via Xinhua)

This picture shows a layout of the Wuwangdun tomb discovered in Huainan, east China's Anhui Province. (Anhui provincial cultural relics and archaeology research institute/Handout via Xinhua)