(ORDO NEWS) — The South China Morning Post reported on a unique discovery made by Chinese archaeologists, who recovered a golden burial mask more than 3,000 years old from the tomb of an ancient Chinese aristocrat.
The mask replicated the facial features of a person and could completely cover the face of an adult, but it was attached to a wooden pole or a dummy, and not to a real dead body.
Such masks and other golden artifacts are relatively common in China, but very rare in Shang Dynasty tombs.
Scientists believe that the mask could symbolize the “imperishable golden body” of the deceased and, most likely, was intended to preserve the integrity of the soul.
The find was made in the recently discovered Zhengzhou Tomb, which covers an area of more than 10,000 square meters and may shed light on the history of the enigmatic Shang Dynasty.
The mask belongs to a very early period of Chinese history and therefore can change many established ideas.
More than 200 other artifacts were found in the tomb, including ornate jade and bronze axes and daggers, as well as wine vessels, goblets and smoking pipes.
Archaeologists have also found turquoise-encrusted brooches and shell coins.
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