Xiao Ba Cliff Tombs

Xiao Ba Cliff Tombs

The Xiao Ba Cliff Tombs are a Sichuan Provincial Cultural Relics Protection Unit.

The Xiao Ba Cliff Tombs are located in Group 1, Datian Village, Qingyi Township, Zhong District, Leshan City, Sichuan Province. The tomb cluster is about 1 kilometer south of the Dadu River. The area has a subtropical monsoon humid climate, and the geological structure consists of thick-layered red sandstone from the Jiaguan Formation of the Cretaceous Jia Ding System. The rock mass is not very strong, with some tomb walls showing seepage and severe weathering. The soil is acidic clay. The Xiao Ba Cliff Tombs are densely distributed. A survey found a total of 1,199 cliff tombs, spread across an area extending from Mahugiao in the east, to Futou Mountain in the south, to Zhaizishan in the west, and to the mountainside of Banzhuwan in the north. It is now a Sichuan Provincial Cultural Relics Protection Unit.

Based on the excavated tombs, their structures are mostly consistent, generally consisting of a tomb passage, corridor, front chamber, gateway, rear chamber, as well as left and right side chambers and coffin chambers. Niches and stoves are commonly found. Most of the tombs have had their front sections, including the tomb passage and front chamber, destroyed. No murals or inscriptions have been discovered so far. The depth of the tomb chambers ranges from 6 to 24 meters. All have been looted. Burial containers include stone coffins integrated with the rock and pottery coffins, with no evidence of wooden coffins. No skeletal remains are preserved, but some tomb chambers still contain fragments of pottery figurines, animal models, pottery jars, pottery steamers, pottery bowls, pottery cups, pottery cauldrons, pottery gui-shaped vessels, and iron knives. Among these, pottery figurines are the most numerous, including dancing figurines, standing-with-hands-folded figurines, dustpan-holding figurines, kitchen figurines, and ear-touching figurines. Animal models include mother-and-chickens, dogs, and horses. Judging from the unearthed artifacts, the upper time limit of the cliff tombs can be traced to the middle Eastern Han Dynasty, with most dating to the late Eastern Han Dynasty, and a few continuing in use into the Tang Dynasty.

As a provincial-level cultural relics protection unit, the Xiao Ba Cliff Tombs in Leshan are exceptionally densely distributed, which is rare within the province. Their tomb structure also exhibits typical characteristics of cliff tombs in southern Sichuan. Despite severe looting, the remaining artifacts still aid in determining the age of the tombs. In short, this large-scale excavation holds significant value for the study of cliff tombs in Leshan and even the entire southern Sichuan region.

Protected Area: Zones I to III cover the vertical cliff faces on both the eastern and western sides of Ma’ertou Mountain, extending 20 meters from the mountain base upwards. Zones IV to VII cover the vertical cliff faces in the Zhaizishan valley, Kuzhuwan, Cizhuwan, and Laiziwang, extending 20 meters from the mountain base upwards. Zone VIII covers the vertical cliff face on the southern tip of Futou Mountain, extending 20 meters from the mountain base upwards. Zone IX covers the vertical mountain face on the northern side of Changyou’er Mountain, extending 20 meters from the mountain base upwards. Total area: 9.5 hectares.

Construction Control Zone: Zones I to VII extend 10 meters eastward to the ridgelines of Kuzhuwan, Cizhuwan, and Laiziwang, 10 meters westward to the outer edge of the western foothills of Ma’ertou Mountain, 10 meters southward to the outer edge of the southern foothills of Ma’ertou Mountain, connecting with Laiziwang. Zone VIII extends 10 meters eastward to the outer edge of the southern foothills of the southern tip of Futou Mountain, 10 meters westward to the outer edge of the western foothills of the southern tip of Futou Mountain, 10 meters northward to the ridgeline of the southern tip of Futou Mountain, and 10 meters southward to the outer edge of the southern foothills of the southern tip of Futou Mountain. Zone IX extends 10 meters eastward to the outer edge of the eastern foothills of Changyou’er Mountain, 10 meters westward to the outer edge of the western foothills of Changyou’er Mountain, 10 meters northward to the outer edge of the northern foothills of Changyou’er Mountain, and 10 meters southward to the ridgeline of Changyou’er Mountain. Total area: 26.3 hectares.