Fangshan Tombs Cluster

Fangshan Tombs Cluster

The Fangshan Tombs Cluster is a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit.

Era: Zhou and Han Dynasties

The Fangshan Tombs Cluster is situated 8 kilometers east of Qufu city on the western foothills of Mount Fang. The tombs are distributed over hills spanning 3 kilometers east-west and approximately 2 kilometers north-south. Originally, there were 22 burial mounds, but only 10 remain. The largest mound is 71 meters from east to west, 75 meters from north to south, and has a slope height of 40 meters. The smallest has a diameter of 10 meters and a slope height of 4 meters. There are no inscribed stelae in front of the tombs, and none have been excavated.

Based on the exposed tombs, it is known that the burial chambers were all cut directly through the rock following the mountain’s contour, with entrance passageways in the front and earthen mounds on top, most of which were rammed earth structures. Judging from collected pottery fragments such as tripods, dou vessels, and plates, as well as geometric-patterned square bricks, these are tombs dating from the Eastern Zhou to the Han Dynasty. It is a Provincial-Level Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit.

In May 2013, it was designated as part of the seventh batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units by the State Council.

Further Reading:

· First Batch of Shandong Provincial Cultural Relics Protection Units

· Seventh Batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units