Lianshan Han Tombs Cluster

Lianshan Han Tombs Cluster

The Lianshan Han Tombs Cluster is a cultural heritage site protected by Jiangxi Province.

The Lianshan Han Tombs Cluster is located in Poyang County and dates back to the Western Han Dynasty.

Also known as the Lianshan Ancient Tombs Cluster, it is the largest Han Dynasty tomb complex in Jiangxi Province, with over a hundred Han tombs gathered in one area — a rare sight nationwide. It lies at the junction of Lianshan Township, Qiaotou Township, and Xiejiafan Town in Poyang County. Most of the tombs are distributed around Lotus Pond and Baihua Pond villages in Lianshan Township. They are laid out in the pattern of a giant dragon: the head is located in the Pengfeng area of Qiaotou, the body and limbs span Lotus Pond and Baihua Pond villages in Lianshan Township, and the tail extends to Kouqian Village in Xiejia Town and Shangnao Village in Lianshan Township, totaling 119 tombs spread across an area of 4 square kilometers.

In 1982, experts from the Chinese Academy of Sciences conducted investigations here. During the 1983 cultural relics survey, the Jiangxi Provincial Institute of Archaeology identified the site as a Han Dynasty tomb cluster. Unfortunately, many tombs were damaged by local residents during large-scale water conservancy projects in the 1960s and 1970s. Artifacts unearthed include iron swords, iron tripods, pottery granary covers, pottery fruit basins, pottery stoves, and pottery axes. In 1991, a bronze yan steamer was excavated and later authenticated by experts as a national first-class cultural relic. A large number of Han bricks have also been discovered.

The discovery of the Lianshan Han Tombs Cluster provides important insights for the study of ancient Chinese burial practices, ancient warfare, and the history of Poyang during the Qin and Han periods. It was designated as a cultural heritage site by the Poyang County People's Government in 1986 and recognized as a provincial-level cultural heritage site by the Jiangxi Provincial People's Government in 2000.

Further Reading:

· Fourth Batch of Jiangxi Provincial Cultural Heritage Sites