Top court warns against tomb raiding inspired by fiction

The Supreme People's Court, China's top court, and the National Cultural Heritage Administration on Saturday released details of six notable criminal cases involving cultural relics, including tomb raiding inspired by grave-robbing novels and the resale of artifacts discovered by chance, to raise public awareness of heritage protection and crime prevention.

In one case, a man surnamed Yu became obsessed with tomb-raiding novels, taught himself excavation techniques and purchased tools. In 2023, he conspired with others to raid ancient tombs on two occasions, locating burial sites and excavating 23 artifacts, either independently or jointly with his accomplices. The items included an inscribed bronze dagger-axe, jade ornaments, bronze pots and a bronze ding vessel.

The two tombs date to the Eastern Zhou Dynasty (770-256 BC) and contain artifacts of significant historical, artistic and scientific value.

The local court ruled that Yu had committed the crime of excavating ancient tombs, as he had raided tombs designated as provincial-level cultural relic protection sites and stolen precious artifacts. He was sentenced to 12 years in prison and fined.

The Supreme People's Court highlighted the case, urging the public to maintain a proper understanding of tomb-raiding fiction and warning against treating such stories as a "textbook" for criminal activity. It also vowed to punish such offenses strictly.

In another case, a coal mine director surnamed Guo knowingly allowed construction to proceed within the protection zone of the Qinzhidao site, a nationally protected cultural relic, without taking measures to avoid damaging the site. His actions caused severe damage, and he was convicted of intentionally damaging cultural relics and sentenced to seven years in prison.

In a separate case, a man surnamed Shi excavated an ancient tomb discovered while he was clearing persimmon tree roots in his yard. He knew his residence was within the protection zone of the Fenghao site, a national key cultural relic. He was sentenced to 15 years in prison.

China's cultural relic security situation remains complex, with heritage-related crimes becoming increasingly professionalized, technologically sophisticated and organized as criminal careers, according to the authorities. Such activities are also spreading online, while major cases continue to emerge.

Many ancient sites, tombs, grottoes and stone carvings are scattered across rural fields and mountain slopes, making them vulnerable to illegal activities. Some offenders, lacking awareness of heritage protection, turn to crime because of misconceptions about the nature and consequences of their actions.

The Supreme People's Court and the heritage administration urged the public to strengthen their awareness of cultural relic protection and relevant laws, and to promptly report suspected illegal activities to the relevant authorities to help safeguard China's cultural heritage.