3,000-year-old coffins discovered in central China

Three sets of coffins, believed to have been buried 3,000 years ago, were discovered in central China's Henan Province.

Local archaeologists said on Tuesday in Zhengzhou (China) that following a preliminary excavation, they retrieved the three sets of inner and outer coffins made of cypress wood from the tombs, as well as a single coffin.

``In ancient times, Chinese people used an outer coffin to protect the inner coffin.’’

They said the coffins have been taken to a museum in Anyang City.

They explained that in March, a villager in Anshang's Neihuang County discovered ancient tombs while digging in a brick kiln.

``He uncovered bronze items as well as human and animal bones 10 metres deep underground.’’

Kong Deming, Head of the Museum, expressed dismay, stressing that it is rare to see such well-preserved coffins from the Shang Dynasty.

``It is a family burial place, and the owners were affluent people, possibly aristocrats,’’ he said.

He noted that the discovery might help archaeologists learn more about Shang Dynasty burial customs and understand cultural development.

Deming said the excavation could also be helpful in geological studies since the coffins were buried so deep.

He explained that the Shang Dynasty capital was once in Shangqiu, Henan and later moved to Anyang, where ruins of the old city were discovered in the early 1900s in one of China's oldest and largest archaeological sites.