Cao Cao's tomb stirs up controversy

Since Cao Cao's tomb was found in Anyang, Henan Province, voices of dissent have continually arisen. Although the national authority has endorsed the authenticity of the tomb, both archaeologists and common people are arguing whether it is genuine or not.

On December 27th, 2009, authorities in Henan province announced that archaeologists had found what could be the tomb of Cao Cao, the skillful general and ruler of the third century.

Pan Weibin, Archaeologist, said, "Among the relics unearthed were stone paintings featuring the social life of Cao's time, stone tablets bearing inscriptions of sacrificial objects and Cao's personal belongings."

The significant discovery got official recognition in June of 2010. The State Administration of Cultural Heritage declared the find one of the 10 top archaeological findings in China during 2009.

However, the archaeological society and amateurs a like have not stopped casting doubt on the claim. A group of experts even announced that the discovery was staged and the objects found were fakes. Across all forms of media, a fierce "War of Words" has been ignited.

Commercial profits are believed to be the major motivation behind the controversy. Some estimate that the tomb could bring in annual tourism profits of over 400 million. In fact, tourism to Anyang city did increase noticeably during the 2010 Spring Festival holiday.

Source: CNTV.cn