External coffin lid of 2,000-yr-old Chinese tomb opened

Chinese archaeologists on Sunday opened the lid of the external coffin of a 2,000-year-old tomb, which they believe belong to a marquis of the Western Han Dynasty (206 BC - 24 AD).

Archaeologists look at the main coffin in the Haihunhou (Marquis of Haihun) cemetery, east China's Jiangxi Province, Dec. 20, 2015. The outer lid of the main coffin in the Haihunhou cemetery was opened on Sunday. According to archaeologists working at the site, relics inside the main coffin in the 2,000-year-old tomb of Haihunhou will likely reveal the occupant's identity. The Haihunhou cemetery near Nanchang City, capital of east China's Jiangxi Province, is the most 
complete known Western Han Dynasty (206 BC - 24 AD) cemetery 
[Credit: Xinhua/Wan Xiang]

They found a large number of gold and jade items, a piece of fine lacquerware decorated with gold foil in the space between the inner and external coffin.

Photo taken on Dec. 20, 2015 shows gilded trunks unearthed from the main coffin in the Haihunhou (Marquis of Haihun) cemetery, east China's Jiangxi Province. The outer lid of the main coffin in the Haihunhou cemetery was opened on Sunday. According to archaeologists working at the site, relics inside the main coffin in the 2,000-year-old tomb of Haihunhou will likely reveal the occupant's identity. The Haihunhou cemetery near Nanchang City, capital of east China's Jiangxi Province, 
is the most complete known Western Han Dynasty (206 BC - 24 AD) cemetery 
 [Credit: Xinhua/Wan Xiang]

Photo taken on Dec. 20, 2015 shows hoof-shaped gold ware unearthed from the main coffin in the Haihunhou (Marquis of Haihun) cemetery, east China's Jiangxi Province. The outer lid of the main coffin in the Haihunhou cemetery was opened on Sunday. According to archaeologists working at the site, relics inside the main coffin in the 2,000-year-old tomb of Haihunhou will likely reveal the occupant's identity. The Haihunhou cemetery near Nanchang City, capital of east China's Jiangxi Province, is the most complete known Western Han Dynasty (206 BC - 24 AD) cemetery 
[Credit: Xinhua/Wan Xiang]

The external plank is 3.4 meters long and 1.6 meter wide. They also discovered a painting of rosefinch on top of the inner coffin.

Photo taken on Dec. 20, 2015 shows a pattern on the inner lid of the main coffin in the Haihunhou (Marquis of Haihun) cemetery, east China's Jiangxi Province. The outer lid of the main coffin in the Haihunhou cemetery was opened on Sunday. According to archaeologists working at the site, relics inside the main coffin in the 2,000-year-old tomb of Haihunhou will likely reveal the occupant's identity. The Haihunhou cemetery near Nanchang City, capital of east China's Jiangxi Province, 
is the most complete known Western Han Dynasty (206 BC - 24 AD) cemetery 
[Credit: Xinhua/Wan Xiang]

Archaeologists clean the main coffin in the Haihunhou (Marquis of Haihun) cemetery, east China's Jiangxi Province, Dec. 20, 2015. The outer lid of the main coffin in the Haihunhou cemetery was opened on Sunday. According to archaeologists working at the site, relics inside the main coffin in the 2,000-year-old tomb of Haihunhou will likely reveal the occupant's identity. The Haihunhou cemetery near Nanchang City, capital of east China's Jiangxi Province, is the most 
complete known Western Han Dynasty (206 BC - 24 AD) cemetery 
[Credit: Xinhua/Wan Xiang]

"We are glad to see the interior coffin is well preserved. There are lacquer paintings on its surface," said Xin Lixiang, who is in charge of the project.

An archaeologist inspects the inner lid of the main coffin in the Haihunhou (Marquis of Haihun) cemetery, east China's Jiangxi Province, Dec. 20, 2015. The outer lid of the main coffin in the Haihunhou cemetery was opened on Sunday. According to archaeologists working at the site, relics inside the main coffin in the 2,000-year-old tomb of Haihunhou will likely reveal the occupant's identity. The Haihunhou cemetery near Nanchang City, capital of east China's Jiangxi Province, is the most complete known Western Han Dynasty (206 BC - 24 AD) cemetery 
[Credit: Xinhua/Wan Xiang]

Photo taken on Dec. 20, 2015 shows a jade disc unearthed from the main coffin in the Haihunhou (Marquis of Haihun) cemetery, east China's Jiangxi Province. The outer lid of the main coffin in the Haihunhou cemetery was opened on Sunday. According to archaeologists working at the site, relics inside the main coffin in the 2,000-year-old tomb of Haihunhou will likely reveal the occupant's identity. The Haihunhou cemetery near Nanchang City, capital of east China's Jiangxi Province, is the most complete known Western Han Dynasty (206 BC - 24 AD) cemetery 
[Credit: Xinhua/Wan Xiang]

Researchers believe the tomb belongs to Liu He, grandson of Emperor Wu, who held the title "Haihunhou," or "Marquis of Haihun." They hope to find his seal in the interior coffin, which would confirm the occupant's identity.

Photo taken on Dec. 20, 2015 shows hoof-shaped gold ware unearthed from the main coffin in the Haihunhou (Marquis of Haihun) cemetery, east China's Jiangxi Province. The outer lid of the main coffin in the Haihunhou cemetery was opened on Sunday. According to archaeologists working at the site, relics inside the main coffin in the 2,000-year-old tomb of Haihunhou will likely reveal the occupant's identity. The Haihunhou cemetery near Nanchang City, capital of east China's Jiangxi Province, is the most complete known Western Han Dynasty (206 BC - 24 AD) cemetery 
[Credit: Xinhua/Wan Xiang]

The Haihunhou mausoleum near Nanchang City, capital of east China's Jiangxi Province, covers some 40,000 square meters with eight tombs and a chariot burial site and walls that stretch almost 900 meters.

Source: Xinhuanet [December 20, 2015]