A cave tomb that dates back over 3,000 years has been discovered in the Gyelsang cemetery site of Nedong District in Shannan City, in Southwest China’s Tibet Autonomous Region. The tomb is the oldest known to exist in the region and was built around 1200 BC according to carbon-14 dating data. The discovery of the tomb is significant as it sheds light on the ancient cultural history of the region.
The tomb was one of 40 ancient tombs that were discovered at the Gyelsang cemetery site, including cave tombs, stone tombs, and earth-pit ones. These tombs are believed to have been constructed between the 13th century BC and the seventh century AD during the reign of the Tibetan Tubo Kingdom. Alongside the tombs, relics such as pottery, woodware, and stoneware were also discovered. The majority of the funerary objects were pottery, which came in unique shapes with distinct regional characteristics.
Tashi Tsering, a researcher with the regional institute of cultural relics protection, has suggested that the cemetery site provides evidence of diverse cultures and exchanges and connections between different areas in the hinterland of Tibet at the time when the tombs were constructed. Additionally, the researcher noted that the prehistoric cemetery also provides evidence that central Tibet had formed a relatively stable cultural area as early as the Shang and Zhou dynasties (1600 BC-256 BC).
The excavation was carried out by a joint archaeological team in 2022, with a total excavation area covering about 300 square meters. The discovery of the tomb and the other ancient tombs and relics is significant in terms of the historical record it provides of the region.
Furthermore, the discovery of the cave tomb and the associated artifacts also provides insight into the region’s ancient cultural practices and beliefs. The fact that the tombs were built during the reign of the Tibetan Tubo Kingdom is also significant as it provides information on the political and social structure of the region at that time.
The discovery of the cave tomb and the other ancient tombs and artifacts is a significant contribution to the understanding of the ancient history and culture of Southwest China’s Tibet Autonomous Region. The discovery provides valuable insights into the cultural practices, social structure, and beliefs of the region’s ancient inhabitants, adding to the wealth of knowledge that researchers have about this important historical area.