File photo of a burial area at the Sifangtang Site in Daye, Hubei Province. (Photo/Xinhua)
6. BURIAL SITES AT COPPER MINE
Archaeologists discovered tombs at mining sites that could date back to as early as the Western Zhou Dynasty (1,100-771 B.C.) and the Spring and Autumn Period (770 - 475 BC).
More than 170 pieces of bronze, pottery and jade antiques were retrieved from the 135 tombs in Daye City, Hubei Province.
Archaeologists believe that some of the tomb occupants could have been managers of the mine whose burial objects were weapons used to protect the site. Others, buried with malachite and iron ore, could be miners or technicians.
An examination of cinders found bronze content between 0.49 and 0.68 percent, suggesting a high level of skill in smelting.
