Archaeologist in Tibet unearth trove of artifacts

The Sangsdar Lungmgo gravesite discovered in the Tibet autonomous region is ranked as one of China's top 10 archaeological finds of 2020, according to media reports from a news conference on Tuesday in Beijing.

Located in Zada county of the region's western Ngari prefecture, the findings — figurines and other items — are epic depictions of the early history of Tibet.

It is the third time an archaeological find in the region has appeared in the annual list, which is often referred to as the Oscars of Chinese archaeology.

The excavation work turned up pottery, bronze, wood, clasps, stone tools, iron, straw weavings, textiles, gold ornaments, gold pendants, beads, animal bones, human bones and wooden coffins.

The gravesite has revealed a trove of material that can be used to explore the early funeral customs of western Tibet.

A wooden figurine unearthed at the same gravesite, which dates to AD600 is believed to the first of its kind discovered on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. It shares similar shapes with wooden figurines unearthed in tombs in Turpan, Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region.