The Shanxi Archaeological Research Institute announced on the 18th that it had excavated and cleared five Tang Dynasty tombs and 25 Ming and Qing tombs at the Tang Dynasty tomb site in Qujiazhai Village, Luzhou District, Changzhi City. Three of these Tang Dynasty tombs had exact dates.

It is understood that from April to May 2025, the Shanxi Archaeological Research Institute and the Ancient Architecture Protection and Archaeological Research Institute of Changzhi City excavated this ancient cemetery. Tomb M1, M20, and M21 of the Tang Dynasty had epitaphs unearthed, all with exact dates, corresponding to the second year (861 AD), sixth year (865 AD), and ninth year (868 AD) of the Xiantong period, respectively. These three Tang tombs were earth cave burials with similar forms, and a total of 48 artifacts were unearthed.

Tomb M1 had 16 arched niches around the lower part of the tomb walls, and inside each niche were clay figurines that had not been fired. Although the painted surfaces of these clay figurines have largely flaked off, leaving only traces of white lime beneath, the figures—be they celestial kings, auspicious beasts, or human likenesses—are vividly rendered.

In the northeast part of Tomb M20, a complete set of Tea utensils was unearthed, including a white porcelain ewer, white porcelain bowls, white porcelain tea cups, an iron spoon, an iron tea mill, and a green porcelain dregs container. The porcelain ensemble is complete, recreating the “ritual sense” of ancient tea appreciation. Apart from the epitaph, Tomb M21 also yielded some broken Pottery jars.

According to the head of this archaeological project, the archaeological work at the Tang Dynasty tomb site in Qujiazhai Village, Luzhou District, Changzhi City, provides new evidence and research materials for studying the local and contemporaneous ancient funeral culture and social culture.

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