On the 4th, the Shanxi Provincial Institute of Archaeology released archaeological excavation data from the M2022 tomb in Hengshui Western Zhou Cemetery, Jiangxian County, Shanxi Province. Archaeologists speculated that the tomb should be a monarch level tomb during the Western Zhou Dynasty based on the size of the tomb, the specifications of accompanying objects, and the attributes of the tomb with martyrs and dogs.
The Hengshui Western Zhou Tomb in Jiangxian, Shanxi was discovered during theft in 2004. From 2004 to 2007, a joint archaeological team was formed by the Shanxi Provincial Archaeological Research Institute (now Shanxi Provincial Archaeological Research Institute), Yuncheng Cultural Relics Workstation, and Jiangxian Cultural Relics Bureau to conduct rescue excavations. The cemetery is well preserved and divided into three excavation areas. A total of 1299 tombs from the Western Zhou Dynasty were excavated, and 33 chariot and horse pits were discovered.
The tomb with archaeological data released this time is M2022 tomb, which has a large tomb chamber and a large chariot and horse pit on the east side. There are a variety of burial objects in the tomb, with a large number, including 1045 sets of bronze ware and 60 sets of jade ware, including 16 bronze ceremonies and musical instruments. Martyrs and dogs were also found, indicating that the tomb owner has a high social status.
According to Song Jianzhong, the leader of this archaeological excavation project, six weapons were buried in the tomb, and it is speculated that the owner’s gender is male. Additionally, there are two inscriptions on M2022 buried bronze vessels related to the King of Zhou. Based on the scale of the tomb, the specifications of accompanying objects, and the attributes of the tomb with martyrs and dogs, it is speculated that M2022 should be a monarch level tomb. (End)