Yanghai Tombs

Yanghai Tombs

The Yanghai Tombs are a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit.

The Yanghai Ancient Tombs are located approximately 1.5 kilometers north of Yanghai Xiamali Village, Tuyugou Township, Shanshan County, Turpan Prefecture, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, on the Gobi land of the southern slope of the Flaming Mountains.

The tomb complex covers a total area of 54,000 square meters and is mainly spread across three relatively isolated plateaus that are slightly higher than the surrounding land. These plateaus are elongated and run in a north–south direction, sloping from higher in the south to lower in the north with gentle gradients. The three plateaus are relatively separated and are all covered with tombs. Their distribution characteristics and types of tombs vary significantly, hence they are divided into Tomb Areas I, II, and III.

Based on their distribution, the Yanghai ancient tombs can be divided into eastern and western sections. The tomb structures include rectangular vertical pit graves, adobe burial chambers or second-tier platforms, and sloped earthen cave tombs.

The eastern group consists of vertical pit graves and vertical pit side-chamber graves, dating from the late Bronze Age to the early Iron Age. A wealth of artifacts has been unearthed, mainly including stone tools, pottery, wooden items, woolen textiles, and hunting tools used in daily life, as well as murals and documents in later-period tombs. It is one of the most representative prehistoric tomb sites in Turpan.

The western group is larger in scale, mainly comprising tombs from the Jin and Tang dynasties, covering an area of up to 10 square kilometers. Sloped tombs predominate here, reflecting different cultural features. The unearthed documents provide insights into the ethnic groups, religions, politics, culture, folk trade, and daily customs of the time, and hold significant historical and scientific research value.

The Yanghai Ancient Tombs are one of the tomb complexes in the Turpan region. The large number of artifacts unearthed from them display strong local cultural characteristics and possess high historical value, scientific value, and unique artistic and cultural significance.

In May 2006, the Yanghai Tombs, dating from the Bronze Age to the Tang Dynasty, were approved by the State Council for inclusion in the sixth batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units.

Further Reading:

· Sixth Batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units