10 July 2025 The Future is the Product of the Past

Ancient tomb with prayer-related murals found in China’s Shanxi

Archaeologists in north China’s Shanxi Province have found an ancient tomb dating back to the Jin Dynasty (1115-1234) with murals illustrating the contents of prayers for family, according to the provincial institute of archaeology.

The excavation of the tomb, located in Nihe Village, Xiushui Township of Yangquan City, was launched in March.

Archaeologists discovered that four persons were buried in the tomb, and murals feature on the tomb gate, the main wall, and the arch of the tomb chamber.

The mural paintings feature abundant elements including starry sky, a child riding a crane, a lion playing with a silk ball, and a dog and deer, which signify good fortune and auspiciousness.

“Tomb murals of this dynasty usually show filial piety and feasts, but this tomb is different from those,” said Zhang Zhaohui, from the provincial institute of archaeology, adding that the discovery will help enrich the understanding of the folk beliefs of the Jin Dynasty.

Part of a mural found in a tomb in Zhangzi county, Shanxi province. [Photo: China Daily]

Source: China.org.cn

Related Articles

Analysis of 13,000-Year-Old Bones Reveals Violent Raids in Prehistoric ‘Jebel Sahaba’

28 May 2021

28 May 2021

Since its discovery in the 1960s, the 13-millennium-old Jebel Sahaba cemetery (Nile Valley, Sudan) has been regarded as one of...

Archaeologists Discover Ivan III’s Seal in Moscow — The First Grand Ducal and Final Lead Seal Ever Found

22 June 2025

22 June 2025

Archaeologists uncover the first grand ducal seal from Moscow, linked to the founder of the centralized Russian state. Archaeologists conducting...

Experts to uncover the secret of the monumental and three-dimensional Urartian statue found on Garibin Tepe

2 November 2024

2 November 2024

In an area where rescue excavations were conducted last year, archaeologists discovered a basalt stone statue from the Urartian period...

Places to Visit in Oman

6 February 2021

6 February 2021

There are many places to visit in Oman. In this article, we wanted to talk about a wonderful country that...

Only Those on the Righteous Path May Enter Here”: New Mosaics Unearthed in Antalya’s Olympos

19 June 2025

19 June 2025

A newly discovered mosaic inscription at the entrance of a church and elaborately decorated floor mosaics have come to light...

‘World’s oldest dated rune stone’ found in Norway

18 January 2023

18 January 2023

The oldest known Rune stone in Norway has been discovered by Norwegian archaeologists working at the Museum of Cultural History...

A Second temple of the Second Temple period was discovered at Migdal

13 December 2021

13 December 2021

The University of Haifa reported on Sunday the discovery of a 2,000-year-old synagogue from the Second Temple era in Migdal,...

1500-year-old Amulet Made to Ward off the Evil Eye in Galilee

26 May 2021

26 May 2021

Discovered about 40 years ago in the Galilee village of Arbel, the necklace sheds light on life 1500 years ago....

Archaeologists Uncovered Rich Viking Women’s Graves in Norway

23 December 2024

23 December 2024

Archaeologists have discovered a wealth of Viking Age history on a treasure trove at Skumsnes farm in Fitjar, Norway’s west...

Ritualistic Dog Burials Associated with the Goddess Gula Unearthed at the Harran Archaeological Site in Southeastern Türkiye

15 December 2024

15 December 2024

Excavations at the Harran archaeological site in Şanlıurfa, one of the world’s oldest settlements and listed on UNESCO’s Temporary World...

Archaeologists Reconstruct the Face of a 7th-Century Anglo-Saxon Woman Buried with “Trumpington Cross”

21 June 2023

21 June 2023

In a remarkable archaeological discovery near Cambridge, England, the face of a 7th-century Anglo-Saxon woman buried with a rare gold...

Archaeologists found a mysterious stone tablet in Georgia that contains an unknown language

5 December 2024

5 December 2024

Archaeologists have unearthed a basalt tablet with inscriptions in an unknown language near Lake Bashplemi, in the Dmanisi region of...

Secrets of the Ancient Walls: 1,700-Year-Old Roman Altar Unearthed at Vuçak Castle in Kosovo

19 April 2025

19 April 2025

Excavations at Vuçak Castle in the Kosovo countryside have led to a remarkable discovery: a Roman altar dating back to...

Yale Archaeologist discovered an “arcade” of rock-cut ancient mancala game boards in Kenya

2 February 2024

2 February 2024

Veronica Waweru, a Yale University archaeologist conducting fieldwork in Kenya, discovered an “arcade” of ancient Mancala game boards carved into...

Oldest Aboriginal pottery discovered in Far North Queensland

10 April 2024

10 April 2024

More than 2000 years ago, Aboriginal Australians were producing ceramics on a secluded island about 35 kilometers off the coast...