Xicun Shitougang Wooden Chamber Tomb

Xicun Shitougang Wooden Chamber Tomb

Xicun Shitougang Wooden Chamber Tomb is a cultural tourism attraction.

Xicun Shitougang Wooden Chamber Tomb is located on Shitougang in Xicun, Guangzhou. It was excavated in 1952. The wooden outer coffin had been dismantled by the time of discovery and was originally over 4 meters long. The inner wooden coffin had also been removed. The burial objects included 13 pottery items such as jars, pots, tripods, boxes, and vats, all of which were Yue-style pottery; there were also 20 bronze items including flat-handled pots, tripods, cauldrons, helmets, steamers, wine vessels, basins, spoons, vats, lifting tubes, and a dragon-patterned mirror. There was also one jade bi disc, one jade seal (without inscriptions), and one jade belt hook. Most of the lacquerware had decayed, but a relatively rare lacquered dou (with a surviving lid) inlaid with jade pieces was found. In addition, there was an oval, elongated lacquered cosmetic box, 25 cm in length, with a black-lacquered wooden body and a vermilion-painted cloud pattern on the lid, bearing the branded characters “Fan Yu” (蕃禺). “Fan Yu” refers to Panyu, the seat of the Nanhai Commandery during the Qin and Han dynasties. This is the earliest archaeological evidence of the place name “Panyu.” Moreover, there were three bronze swords with jade fittings, two short bronze swords, and two bronze halberds, though all were poorly preserved. One well-preserved Qin ban liang coin was also found.