Wild Guangzhou Zoo Excavation Reveals 148 Ancient Tombs From 2,100-Years-Ago!

In a wild twist to your typical zoo visit, archaeologists have uncovered an ancient treasure trove of history right under the noses of the animals at Guangzhou Zoo in South China’s Guangdong Province! Imagine one minute strolling past the giraffes and the next uncovering a 2,100-year-old burial site – which is what happened between April and July 2024, when an archaeological team dug deep into a construction area at the zoo and unearthed a whopping 148 tombs.

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A Time Capsule of China

The team from the Guangzhou Municipal Institute of Cultural Heritage and Archaeology deduced that they hadn’t just uncovered a random bunch, but a time capsule spanning centuries: from the Han Dynasty (206 BC – 220 AD) all the way to the early years after the founding of the People's Republic of China. The excavation, covering about 1,300 square meters (3300 square feet), was like opening a book of history that had been buried beneath the zoo for millennia, reports The Global Times.

Among the tombs, four are from the Han Dynasty, eight from the Jin and Southern dynasties (265-589 AD), 15 from the Tang Dynasty (618-907 AD), and a staggering 121 from the Ming and Qing dynasties (1368-1911 AD). Talk about history piling up! And the artifacts they found - 196 of them, to be exact, are just as magnificent - delicate pottery, shining porcelain, bronze treasures, jade ornaments, and even 48 gravestones dating back to the Republic of China period (1912-49) and the early PRC days.

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Overview of tombs found at Guangzhou Zoo. (China News Service)

The Han Dynasty, one of China’s most illustrious eras, was a time of remarkable achievements that still echo through history - a golden age where culture, science, and innovation flourished, leaving a legacy that shaped not just China, but the entire world.

One of the standout contributions of the Han Dynasty was the Yuefu, an institution dedicated to collecting and preserving musical descriptions. It was a cultural treasure trove of ancient melodies and songs, carefully documented to ensure that the music of the time was never lost to the ages. The Shiji, an extraordinary historical record penned by the historian Sima Qian, also emerged during this period.

The Showstopping Tombs: The Eastern Jin and Southern Dynasties

Now, for the real showstoppers! Two tombs stole the spotlight: one from the Eastern Jin Dynasty (317-420) and another from the Southern Dynasties (420-589).

The Eastern Jin tomb is a giant, measuring over 10 meters (33 ft) in length. This is reported as the largest and best-preserved tomb from this period ever found in Guangzhou. Even though there is evidence looters tried to break in at some time (there’s a hole near the entrance), the chamber and walls are still standing strong, reports Arkeonews.

Then there's the Southern Dynasties tomb, which is like a romantic relic from the past—a joint burial for a married couple. Despite some looting attempts, with small holes at the top, the tomb remains in excellent condition. It’s a snapshot of ancient love, preserved in stone.

"The discovery of these two tombs is of great significance to the study of burial shapes, stages and funeral customs during the Six Dynasties period (222-589) in Guangzhou, as well as to the research on the construction technology during the Jin and Southern dynasties' architecture," Cheng noted in a press release from Xinhua News Agency.

What’s fascinating is that the Ming and Qing burial chambers aren’t just random pits in the ground. They follow a precise pattern, like a well-organized, centuries-old cemetery with tombs that are similar in size, orientation, and spacing. It’s clear that this area was a carefully planned resting place for the departed.

If that’s not enough, Guangzhou Zoo has been a bit of a hotspot for ancient discoveries. Since it opened in 1956, nearly 500 ancient tombs have been uncovered in over 30 spots across the zoo. Clearly, the Guangzhou Zoo, is not just a place for animals but rather a time-travel portal to ancient China, where history literally lies beneath your feet!

Top image: Tomb discovered at Guangzhou Zoo.              Source: China News Service

By Sahir Pandey