Precious bricks found in ancient tombs in Xiangyang

Xiangyang Institute of Cultural Relics and Archeology find out 27 ancient brick-chambered tombs in Xiangcheng District of Xiangyang, Central China's Hubei province. [Photo/people.cn]

"Taiyuan year 21, Han's tomb" is engraved on one side of the tomb brick. "Taiyuan year 21" is the year 396 AD.

Bronze mirrors, porcelains, potteries and other cultural relics have been unearthed from the tomb. The brick coffin chamber of the Southern Dynasties tomb is 7 meters long, 3 meters wide and 3 meters high. The fine bricks were made of clay. Ornamental patterns were engraved on every brick, portraying animals, plants, portraits and religious stories.

According to the archaeologists, Xiangyang has been a regional central city since the Eastern Han Dynasty (25-220). Many Southern Dynasties tombs with portrait bricks had been unearthed there.