5,000-year-old jade 'dragon' unearthed in tomb in China

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Archaeologists discovered the jade “dragon” in the city of Chifeng, in north China’s Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region.
(Image credit: Xinhua/ Alamy Stock Photo )

Scientists in China have actually found a jade dragon within a 5,000-year-old burial place.

The artifact is 6.2 inches long and 3.7 inches broad (15.8 by 9.5 centimeters)and was discovered within a circular burial place that has a square altar simply south of it, the main state news company Xinhua reportedHuman remains were likewise discovered in the burial place, together with a big quantity of pottery consisting of cups, basins and pots in the shape of tripods.

The burial place, situated in the city of Chifeng in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region in China, is in between 5,000 and 5,100 years of ages, dating to a time when the Hongshan culture grew in the area. Individuals of this Neolithic culture grew crops, developed large towns with big structures and produced elaborate artifacts. The brand-new discover is the most significant example of a jade dragon produced by the Hongshan culture ever found, Xinhua reported.

While the discovery is “very nice it is not that unique,” Gideon Shelach-Lavia teacher of East Asian Studies at The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, informed Live Science in an e-mail. Shelach-Lavi has actually excavated at Chifeng in the past however was not included with the brand-new discovery.

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Archaeologists excavate a stone burial place website in Chifeng. (Image credit: Xinhua/ Alamy Stock Photo)

He kept in mind that jade dragon artifacts of comparable size have actually been found in the past at other Hongshan culture burial places. He likewise kept in mind that scientists can’t be particular the recently discovered jade dragon, or the formerly discovered ones, in fact illustrate dragons. “We do not really know what their meaning was during the Neolithic period so calling them ‘dragons’ is anachronistic,” Shelach-Lavi stated.

The place where the artifacts and human remains were discovered is more than a burial place. “It is a ritualistic structure that contains, among other things, graves of specific individuals,” Shelach-Lavi stated. He kept in mind that comparable structures were discovered in previous excavations at another website called Niuheliang.

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Live Science called archaeologists who made the brand-new discovery at Chifeng however did not hear back sometimes of publication.

Owen Jarus is a routine factor to Live Science who discusses archaeology and people’ past. He has actually likewise composed for The Independent (UK), The Canadian Press (CP) and The Associated Press (AP), to name a few. Owen has a bachelor of arts degree from the University of Toronto and a journalism degree from Ryerson University.