A tombstone dating back more than 1,200 years has been found in north China's Hebei Province, local authorities said Wednesday.

The tombstone, found in Houguotun Village in Qinghe County, is 36 cm tall, 36 cm wide and 8.5 cm thick, with an inscription of 573 characters.

The epitaph records the history of the tomb owner -- the wife of a Tang Dynasty (618-907 A.D.) official who died at the age of 24. It also praises the woman's good looks and noble moral character.

Li Jing, director of the office of Qinghe County's annals, said the epitaph provides important materials for the study of funeral customs and culture in north China during the Tang Dynasty.