The Shanxi Provincial Institute of Archaeology released new archaeological findings on the 10th. Local archaeologists discovered 9 tombs from the Spring and Autumn Period to the Qing Dynasty in Hongdong County, Shanxi Province. According to the analysis of the unearthed artifacts, the owner of one of the Spring and Autumn tombs may be the Qing doctor at that time. 

The Nanqin cemetery is a part of the Nanqin Ruins. The Nanqin Ruins were discovered in the 1950s. The scope includes the remains of Nanqin Village, Yongning Fort and Fangdui. It was rescued in Yongning Fort in the 1980s. 12 small and medium tombs were excavated.

The Nanqin Ruins are located on a platform about 200 meters southwest of Nanqin Village, Guangshengsi Town, Hongdong County, Linfen City, Shanxi Province. To the north, there is a Washi Line Railway crossing the cemetery from east to west, and to the southwest is about 5 kilometers from Hongdong County. It is about 1 kilometer away from the Yongning Fort site in the north, 2.5 kilometers away from the Fangdui site in the northeast, and more than ten kilometers away from the ruins of the ancient city of Hongdong in the East Zhou Dynasty.

Gold ornaments unearthed from the tomb Photo courtesy of Shanxi Provincial Institute of Archaeology

More than 150 sets of various artifacts were unearthed in this tomb in the late Spring and Autumn Period, including copper, pottery, stone, gold, bone, and lacquer. In particular, the discovery of two sets of 9 bronze tripods and a complete set of bells and chime musical instruments allowed the rank of the tomb owner to be determined.

According to Yang Jiyun, the team leader of this archaeological excavation project, musical instruments from the Sanjin region during the Eastern Zhou Dynasty were all found in tombs above five dings. Based on a comprehensive judgment, the rank of the tomb owners reflected in the Southern Qin cemetery was also a noble doctor class, which should be able to reach the rank of Qing doctor. 

Bronze ware unearthed from the tomb Photo courtesy of Shanxi Provincial Institute of Archaeology

Yang Jiyun said that the Nanqin cemetery is a large-scale cemetery with a long history, rich connotations and relatively complete preservation. The textual research on the history of Jin during the two-week period provides precious material reference materials.