Archaeologists discover 13 ancient tombs in Tibet

Image for representational purpose only

Beijing: Archaeologists have discovered 13 ancient tombs which is estimated to be between 1,800 and 2,700 years old, in Bomi County of southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region.

According to the regional institute of cultural relics, the tombs were discovered by construction workers during a road project in Qundo township, Nyingchi, in the second half of 2016.

Shaka Wangdu, associate researcher with the institute said, two relatively complete human skeletons were found in two tombs, while human bones were also discovered in other graves.

Archaeologists also found that the tombs appeared to follow a known burial custom, which is still seen in parts of Qundo.

According to the custom, after the body has decayed, the bones are exhumed and reburied, state-run Xinhua news agency reported today.

Objects including eight complete examples of pottery, a millstone, three bronze arrowheads and iron residue were also found.

Shaka Wangdu said, "The tombs will help research into Tibetan funeral customs and human development in eastern Tibet in a period without written records".

(With PTI inputs)