Xi'an ancient tomb named top annual archaeological dig

China's Top 10 New Archaeological Discoveries of 2021, the updated version of a widely anticipated annual list that has garnered attention far beyond academic circles, was released on March 31.

The Jiangcun grand tomb located in Baqiao district, Xi'an, capital of Northwest China's Shaanxi province, made the list.

Since 2017, archaeological excavation work unearthed more than 1,000 types of pottery figurines, as well as more than 3,000 pieces of gold, silver, copper, iron and pottery relics.

Findings from the Jiangcun grand tomb helped archaeologists finally confirm that it is in fact the mausoleum of Liu Heng, the emperor known for establishing the foundations of prosperity in the Western Han Dynasty (206 BC-AD 24). The finding also ended a long debate over the whereabouts of the ruler's final resting place.

The tomb site is located very close to the main urban area of Xi'an, which has a relatively mature tourism industry and sightseeing agriculture.

Experts in cultural relics and culture and tourism agree that if a museum or an archaeological park is built, it will likely become a new cultural landmark of Xi'an, helping protect and take advantage of major cultural relics and resources and promoting the integrated development of cultural education, public services, tourism, leisure and entertainment, and scientific research.