Tubo period petroglyphs found in Tibet

LHASA -- Eight stone inscriptions found in Mangkam County in Southwest China's Tibet autonomous region have been confirmed as dating back to the Tibetan Tubo Kingdom more than 1,000 years ago, the county cultural relics bureau said Sunday.

The bureau along with the county tourist bureau and Sichuan University institute of Tibetan studies began research work in Mangkam County in the second half of 2016.

The eight stone inscriptions are all Buddhist figures whose style of dress is typical of the Tubo's upper classes.

"Judging from the costumes of the inscribed figures, we decide these inscriptions were made in the second half of the eighth century or the first half of the ninth," said Zhang Yanqing, an associate professor at the institute.

Archaeologists said the inscriptions reflect the communication between eastern and western culture during the Tubo period. They are also evidence of cultural communication and religious transmission between Tibetans and neighboring ethnic groups in ancient times.