Around 1,092 ancient tombs have been discovered during construction work on Beijing's new administrative center of Tongzhou. (Photo courtesy of Beijing Municipal Institute of Cultural Relics/Beijing Times)
Around 1,092 ancient tombs have been discovered during construction work on the city's new administrative center, local authorities said Thursday.
The tombs date as far back as the Warring States (475 B.C.-221 B.C.), period right up to the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), according to Beijing municipal administration of cultural heritage.
The team also discovered one ancient city site and 69 ancient kilns.
More than 10,000 cultural relics have been unearthed, including pottery, porcelain, bronze and iron ware, in Lucheng township of Tongzhou district in the seven months to late September, the agency said.
They explored an area of 1 million square meters and excavated 40,000 square meters.
Sixty sites have been completely relocated for better protection.
Tongzhou, which is about 40 minutes' drive from the center of Beijing, will become a subsidiary administrative center for Beijing municipality.
