The excavation of the Jiazhai village cemetery in Xi'an, conducted by the Shaanxi Provincial Institute of Archaeology, earned a spot on the domestic list of the 2024 Top 10 Domestic and International Archaeological Discoveries, announced on Dec 23 by China Media Group.

The excavation uncovered 1,240 tombs and nearly 4,000 artifacts. Among the finds were the first-ever statues of ancient Kyrgyz individuals, as well as the family tombs of Emperor Xuanzong's beloved consort, Dong, of the Tang Dynasty (618-907).

The five high-cut silver cups unearthed in the Dong family tomb. [Photo provided by Shaanxi Provincial Institute of Archaeology]

These findings provide invaluable evidence for studying the late Tang dynasty's society, politics, and history.

The excavation confirmed that the cemetery, centered on the tomb of Dong Che, the family patriarch, represents at least four generations. The tombs are arranged chronologically from south to north, dating from Dong Che's death in 690 and burial in 691. Notable finds include Tang ceramics that enrich the study of early Tang-period craftsmanship.

The site also revealed the family tombs of the Liang clan. Among them was the tomb of Feng Bao, daughter of renowned calligrapher Feng Chengsu, with inscriptions offering new evidence for his work on the "Shenlong Version" of the Lanting Xu.

Located in the Chang'an district of Xi'an, the site underwent rescue excavations from January 2022 to April this year. From the Western Han Dynasty (206 BC-AD 24) to the late Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), the finds provide critical insights into regional transformations, burial customs, and daily life over the centuries.