Jalainur Ancient Tombs

Jalainur Ancient Tombs

The Jalainur Ancient Tombs are located on the slopes of the eastern bank of the Dalan'e Luomu River in the northern part of the Jalainur mining area, Hulunbuir League, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. They are the burial site of the Tabgach Xianbei people from 2,900 years ago.

This large ancient tomb complex contains over 300 graves, left behind by the Tabgach Xianbei tribe after they migrated from the primeval forests at the southeastern foot of the Greater Khingan Mountains to the lush grasslands of the Jalainur region in the early Eastern Han Dynasty. They lived here for over a hundred years before moving on. The Tabgach Xianbei tribe grew and prospered here, and later entered the Central Plains to establish the Northern Wei Dynasty.

In the summer of 1960, archaeologists excavated 31 tombs, including 26 single burials, 2 double burials, 2 child burials, and 1 mother-and-child joint burial, unearthing more than 300 artifacts. These tombs are all vertical earthen pit graves with wooden coffins as burial containers—most had lids but no bottoms. The skeletal remains inside were almost all laid in an extended supine position, facing north, placed inside the coffins. The tombs also contained numerous sacrificial animals such as cattle, horses, and sheep, along with funerary objects including pottery, bronze ware, bone tools, wooden items, and shells.

In May 2006, the Jalainur Tomb Cluster was approved by the State Council as part of the sixth group of Major Historical and Cultural Sites Protected at the National Level, recognized as an ancient architectural site from the Han Dynasty.

Further Reading:

· Sixth Group of Major Historical and Cultural Sites Protected at the National Level