A massive two-year archaeological excavation in Xi’an, Shaanxi Province, has yielded a rich trove of historical material, including the well-preserved burial grounds of the family of a prominent imperial favorite from the Tang Dynasty (618–907).
The discovery offers unprecedented insight into the political and social dynamics that influenced the later reign of Emperor Xuanzong.
Conducted from early 2022 through April 2024, the rescue excavation at Jiali village cleared 1,240 ancient tombs spanning a vast period, from the Western Han (206 BC–AD 25) to the late Qing Dynasty (1644–1911). In total, nearly 4,000 artifacts were recovered, providing critical data for understanding regional evolution and funerary customs across multiple historical eras.
The most significant portion of the discovery centers on the family complex belonging to Dong Guifei, a concubine to Emperor Xuanzong. Stone inscriptions within the burial site confirmed the presence of at least four generations, with the complex organized around the tomb of the presumed patriarch, Dong Che.
Although Dong Che’s tomb had suffered significant damage over time, it contained a substantial collection of Tang tri-colored glazed earthenware (Sancai pottery). This finding is particularly important for studying the early production of the distinctive glazed ceramic ware in the Guanzhong region.
Further enhancing the historical value, archaeologists uncovered five high-footed engraved silver cups within the Dong family’s grounds. This marks the first major recovery of high-footed silver cups in the context of Tang Dynasty archaeology, providing rare, dated examples essential for scholarly analysis.
The wider cemetery also contained the tomb of Dong Shaorong, the wife of Zhang Jiuling, a celebrated official and poet of the Tang era. This related finding provides new background and context for academic interpretation of Zhang Jiuling’s later poetic works.
Source: Global Times
