Tumulus Tomb Cluster in Southern Anhui

Tumulus Tomb Cluster in Southern Anhui

The Tumulus Tomb Cluster in Southern Anhui is a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit.

Tumulus Tomb Cluster

The Tumulus Tomb Cluster in Southern Anhui is located within Pingpu Town, covering an area of approximately 5 square kilometers, with two to three thousand tombs. It was discovered during a cultural relics survey in 1982 and is a large-scale public cemetery dating back to the Western Zhou to the Spring and Autumn periods. Artifacts unearthed from the tombs include stamped pottery jars, pots, clay spinning wheels, and more. The tumulus tombs are characterized by flat-ground burial with piled-up earth mounds and are important cultural remnants of the ancient Wu Kingdom. In May 2001, they were approved by the State Council as part of the fifth batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units.

Zhou Dynasty Tumulus Tombs

The characteristics of this tumulus tomb cluster are: the tombs are situated on higher ground and distributed along the hills and ridges on both sides of rivers, with one tomb per mound. Human remains are rarely found, or only small fragments of bones are present. Burial objects are usually placed at the center of the tomb, typically ranging from 1 to 8 items, though empty tombs with no burial items have also been discovered. The main types of burial objects are stamped pottery vessels, sandy-clay cooking ware, and primitive celadon ware, while bronze artifacts are relatively rare. Common bronze items include tripods, swords, and halberds, whose shapes are generally similar to those from the Central Plains, featuring decorations such as stylized animal mask patterns, cloud-and-thunder motifs, and string patterns. A few designs are unique to the region, such as a bronze tripod adorned with a three-winged butterfly pattern—this motif has not been found elsewhere and holds significant research value.

(1) Wan’niudun Tumulus Tomb Cluster in Fanchang County

Protected Area: Divided into northern and southern sections by the Wuhua Mountain stream system. The southern section is centered around the administrative villages of Xinpai and Hantang, extending east to Macun and Zengjiabo, west to Lishuchong and Zhujia chong, south to the eastern side of the Yantang stream gully along Yangshan, and north to 50 meters north of the Fanchang–Xinhua Highway. The northern section is centered around the administrative villages of Wuhua and Matang, extending east to Nianwujī, west to Xuewu and Wangjiacun, south to Matangchong and Dongba, and north to Chachong stream.

Construction Control Zone: Same as the protected area.

(2) Qianfengshan Tumulus Tomb Cluster in Nanling County

Protected Area: Southeast to the southern slope of Wubianchong in Jieshan administrative village, northeast to the Nanling–Jing County Highway, southwest to the Lao Village Dai and Xiejia Yuan natural villages in Guanzhou administrative village, northwest to Xintang and Ancun in Qianfeng administrative village.

Construction Control Zone: Same as the protected area.

Further Reading:

· Fifth Batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units