In 2010, a wide range of ancient remains and tombs has been discovered around the world. In this article, you will learn of discoveries in China and Peru, as well as archeological news that hit the headlines in January of 2010.
Ancient Tomb in China Found
In the ancient capital of Xi’an in China, a large tomb dating back to the Han Dynasty has been uncovered by archeologists, who believe that it belonged to a high ranking general named Zhang Anshi. In the afterlife, hundreds of small nude pottery figurines were left behind to guard his final resting places, which had also been buried alongside two carriages and live horses.
The tomb was discovered in the Chang’an district of Xi’an, which was the capital city of ancient Western Han Dynasty (206BC to 220AD). Zhang was important in Chinese history because he was instrumental in preserving stability along the western border in the Xinjiang region. Hopefully, archeologists will be able to learn a bit more about the military aspects of this ancient time period through this discovery.
The excavation of the first tomb complex of a noble leader in the Han Dynasty that was actually intact started in 2008. The main tomb measures more than 60 meters long that is surrounded by six pits of various sizes.
Tomb and Remains in Peru
In January, the discovery of an 800-year-old tomb and remains in the Lambayeque region of Peru also hit the headlines. Archeologists discovered the remains of a man that was buried with 500 nectarine seeds, which were known in his time as an aphrodisiac. Researchers feel that the man was once a folk healer or shaman , also referred to as a curandero. The body had a ceramic vessel alongside it that contained the seeds. The exact location of the find was close to the valley of the Tucume Pyramids in northern Peru.
Archeologists initially believed that they had stumbled upon a ceremonial burial site, but after finding more items, they knew they had uncovered the remains of a shaman from the pre-Incan Lambayeque culture. The ancient belief regarding shamans was that they had the ability to heal, but also to communicate with the gods.
Other archeology news from January 2010 includes:
A Maya site in southern Chiapas, Mexico is where archeologists have found Toltec ceramics within a tomb that dates back 1,100 years.
Fragments of parchment have been pieced together to create part of the Gregorian Code, which was a collection of Roman laws associated with the people from 117 to 305 AD. It was originally thought that the information had been lost forever, but thanks to the University College London, the fragments will reveal significant details, such as clear calligraphic script, Latin phrases, and other information that dates back to 400 AD.
Neanderthal remains in Poland have been discovered in a cave, which includes three teeth. Stone tools and bone object made from woolly mammoths and woolly rhinoceros were also found at the same site.