2,000-year-old sword found in Henan

A well-preserved bronze sword was unearthed in Zhoukou, Henan province, from a 2,000-year-old tomb along with other funeral objects.

2,000-year-old sword found in Henan
A well-preserved bronze sword was unearthed in Zhoukou, 
Henan province [Credit: IC]
The Beijing Times reported on Sunday that the sword, found in the tomb complex built between the Warring States Period (475-221 BC) and Eastern Han Dynasty (25 AD-220 AD), remains intact and still glitters.

2,000-year-old sword found in Henan
Another piece of relics was unearthed in Zhoukou, 
Henan province [Credit: IC]
The local archaeological department found the tomb complex composed of a total of 21 graves when exploring the underground culture relics before an infrastructure project in the city's Xiangcheng area.

2,000-year-old sword found in Henan
Archaeologists work at the 2,000-year-old tomb 
[Credit: IC]
Most of these graves have been robbed and just five of them remain intact, where pottery products including jug, can, spoon, plate, bowl and eaves tiles were unearthed.

Other relics include the sword, two bronze spears and a bronze dagger-axe. Archaeologists said the sword belonged to the tomb owner and was buried with him when he died.

Author: Wang Zhenghua | Source: China Daily [March 15, 2015]