Chinese archaeologists have found a 3,000-year-old stone coffin which contains a smaller casket inside at a site in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.
The discovery, the first of its kind in Xinjiang, was made earlier this month by researchers with the Institute of Archaeology of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences in Qagan Gol Township, Qinghe County.
Scattered bones were found in the large casket, which is about 3 meters long and 1.65 meters wide. Associate researcher Guo Wu, who led the excavation, speculated that the casket was not the first home of the remains, but noted that conclusion could only be confirmed after scientific tests.
Inside the small casket, which is around 1.7 meters long and 1.5 meters wide, a complete skeleton of a woman was discovered along with pottery, bone and stone tools, according to Guo.
The large coffin was built between 3,800 and 3,500 years ago and small one between 2,800 and 2,500 years ago. The researchers speculated the small casket was made by those who wanted to "reuse" the large one.
Guo said they are using a drone to obtain images of the coffins from all angles, adding that the findings are significant for research on the history and culture of early nomads in the Altai region.
