The Jin Tang Tumulus Tomb Cluster

The Jin Tang Tumulus Tomb Cluster

The Jin Tang Tumulus Tomb Cluster is a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit.

The Jin Tang Tumulus Tomb Cluster

The 2005 large-scale rescue excavation of tumulus tombs along the Ningchang and Zhenli expressways was the most extensive such project in the history of Jiangnan tumulus tomb archaeology. A total of 40 tumuli were excavated, 233 burial chambers were cleared, 229 sets of ritual objects were unearthed, and 14 architectural remains associated with the tombs were discovered. More than 3,800 artifacts with distinct Jiangnan regional features were found, mainly including geometric-patterned pottery and primitive celadon ware. This significantly enriched the cultural understanding of Jiangnan tumulus tombs, particularly achieving major breakthroughs in aspects such as tomb structure, layout, burial methods, and ritual customs: It was confirmed that Jiangnan tumulus tombs not only feature the single-tomb-per-mound pattern but also commonly include multiple burials within a single mound, with the latter being more prevalent; both earthen-piled burials and vertical shaft pit burials were found to coexist; the first discovery of a concentric structural layout in multi-burial mounds highlighted strong indigenous Jiangnan characteristics; diverse forms of tomb-related architectural remains were identified; the boundary areas of tumulus tomb burial grounds were discovered for the first time; and it was verified that complex and varied funeral customs existed, including the use of artifact sets for ritual offerings.

Further Reading:

· Seventh Batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units