‘Ancient Tombs of Zhaoqing’ was compiled by the Guangdong Provincial Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology and was published by Science Press in May 2008. This hardback edition is 141 pages long and includes 70 colour plates.

     This book is a comprehensive report of the excavations conducted by the Guangdong Provincial Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology of tombs, wells and ash pits in Zhaoqing City, Sihui City and Guangning County in the Zhaoqing district, Guangdong Province, between 2004 and 2006.

      A cluster of four tombs dating from the Late Warring States period were unearthed at Longzuigang in Guangning. Their discovery and excavation was an important achievement for the study of Bronze Age archaeology in Guangdong and are a valuable source of material for the study of the ancient Yue people's political affairs, everyday life, the garrisons and defence capabilities of its armies, its weaponry and Yue burial customs.  Twelve tombs, three wells and two ash pits were unearthed at Kangle Zhonglu in Zhaoqing. The tomb cluster included tombs from the Han, Eastern Jin, Southern Dynasties, Tang and Song periods. A brick-chambered tomb dating from the Tang Dynasty was unearthed at Taotang, Sihui City.

      While the pottery, porcelain, bronzeware and talcose artifacts found in these tombs share a lot of cultural characteristics with those found at contemporaneous sites in the Central Plains, they also have their own unique characteristics. This book is a valuable reference for the study of the burial customs and tomb structures of several historical periods in Guangdong's Zhaoqing district.

 

                                                 Translated by Kelly McGuire