The Ancient City and Cemetery of Luhé

The Ancient City and Cemetery of Luhé

The Ancient City and Cemetery of Luhé is a cultural heritage site protected at the provincial level in Shanxi Province.

The Ancient City and Cemetery of Luhé

The Ancient City and Cemetery of Luhé (Second Batch of Provincial-Level Protected Sites)

Era: Spring and Autumn & Warring States Periods

Location: Luhé and Gucheng Villages, Xinanquan Town, on the banks of the Zhuozhang River, 18 km northeast of Lucheng City

Historically, the Western Zhou–era State of Lüzǐ and the Spring and Autumn–era State of Lüzǐ Yīng’ér established their capitals in Gucheng Village. Remnants of the ancient city site include parts of the western and northern walls. The ancient cemetery is located on a sunny slope backed by mountains and facing water to the north of the ancient city site and in Luhé Village. A gully in the central part of the cemetery divides it into eastern and western sections. The eastern section has a dense concentration of tombs, mostly medium-sized ones. Analysis of unearthed artifacts suggests that these tombs date slightly earlier, to the middle and late Spring and Autumn Periods. The western section is larger, with fewer medium-sized tombs and mostly small-sized ones, dating from the Warring States Period to the Qin and Han Dynasties. Rescue excavations were carried out in this cemetery in 1983 and 1991, yielding a rich collection of over a thousand artifacts. Among the bronze wares unearthed, the main combinations include ding (tripods), dou (food vessels), hu (jars), and pans, along with jian (mirrors), guan (jars), bianzhong (chime bells, as ritual objects), yongzhong (bells), ge (dagger-axes), mao (spears), jian (swords), zu (arrowheads), and chariot and horse fittings. In addition, many jade, stone, bone, and pottery artifacts were also found.

Further Reading:

· Second Batch of Provincial-Level Cultural Heritage Protection Units in Shanxi Province