Extremely rare 5,000-year-old jade dragon revealed in ancient Chinese tomb

(NLDO) - A luxurious ancient tomb has just been discovered in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region - China, filled with rare treasures from the Hongshan culture.

An excavation in Chifeng City, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China has brought back countless treasures dating back 5,000 - 5,100 years, which were burial objects inside an extremely luxurious ancient tomb.

Archaeologists are excavating an ancient tomb in Chifeng City, Inner Mongolia - China - Photo: TAN HOA XA

According to Xinhua news agency, most notable in the tomb is a beautiful jade dragon, measuring 15.8 x 9.5 cm.

This is the largest jade dragon originating from the Hongshan culture that archaeologists have ever found.

Parts of a jade dragon exposed in an ancient tomb - Photo: TAN HOA XA

The Hongshan culture was a Neolithic culture in northeastern China.

They cultivated crops, built large towns with large buildings, and created complex artifacts at a time when life was still very primitive in most other places in China and the world .

Therefore, artifacts from this unique culture are of unparalleled value.

Researchers also found human remains in the tomb, along with a large amount of pottery including uniquely designed cups, pots and vases.

Speaking to Live Science, Professor Gideon Shelach-Lavi from Hebrew University (Israel), who has participated in many excavations at Xich Phong, said that this jade dragon is the largest but not the most unique.

Smaller jade dragon artifacts have been discovered in other Hongshan culture tombs.

Besides, although it is called a dragon, researchers are not absolutely sure that this artifact depicts dragons that were popular in later East Asian culture, because the image created 5 millennia ago looks very primitive and has many differences.

Source: https://nld.com.vn/rong-ngoc-5000-tuoi-cuc-hiem-lo-ra-trong-mo-co-trung-quoc-196241016091629766.htm