In Shanxi Province, North China, archaeologists have uncovered a tomb dating back approximately 3,000 years belonging to a noblewoman.

Known as tomb M1033, it was discovered in the Dahekou cemetery of Yicheng County.

Since 2007, excavations at the Dahekou Cemetery of the Western Zhou Dynasty have revealed over 600 burials and 20 chariot-and-horse pits.

This discovery has been particularly significant as it sheds light on the existence of the previously undocumented Ba state during the Western Zhou period.

Bronze inscriptions found in the cemetery indicate the state clan name as Ba 霸, with Ba Bo (the Earl of Ba) as the paramount ruler.

The announcement was made by the Shanxi Institute of Cultural Relics and Archeology. The tomb contains the remains of a sacrificed animal in the center pit and belongs to a medium-sized structure, Arkeonews has reported.

The deceased, believed to be a middle-ranking noblewoman from the mid-Western Zhou period, was aged between 31 and 34 and buried in a supine position with straight limbs.

A wealth of burial objects, including bronze wares, pottery, jade artifacts, and shellfish containers, were recovered from the tomb, totaling 430 items divided into 93 groups.

This discovery provides valuable insights into the feudal states of Shanxi’s southern region during the Western Zhou period and their interactions with the Jin state, considering the majority of the province was under Jin state control at that time.

Written by B.C. Begley