Unique burial custom discovered in central China's ancient tombs

A unique burial style has recently been discovered in an archaeological excavation site in central China's Hunan Province.

Zhao Yafeng, an associate researcher with the Hunan Provincial Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology, said broken pottery such as jars and pot pieces were paved at the bottom of the tombs, while the coffins were placed above the debris with undamaged plates, cups and kettles surrounding them. Jade ware and tableware were also found inside the coffins.

Experts said that over 120 ancient tombs around the site of Sunjiagang, located in Lixian County, showed such features and it marks the first time that such a unique burial custom was found on a large scale.

The special burial custom in the site dates back around 4,000 years. The findings can help archaeologists better understand ancient Chinese funerals, according to Zhao.