One of the largest oracle bones ever found will be feature in a rare exhibition of the bones at the National Library of China in Beijing. Long before satellite imaging and Doppler radar came along, using a cow bone was once seen as a dependable way to predict the weather. More than 3,000 years ago, kings in China relied on such animal bones to foretell future events. Through the ages, fragments of these oracle bones have survived, offering archaeologists early glimpses into the countrys history, as well as its writing system. Storing about a quarter of the discovered oracle bones…
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Pulled from the sea more than two decades ago, archaeologists are still pulling treasure from the submerged confines of an ancient Chinese merchant ship. According to media reports, more than 200 porcelain artifacts were recently discovered from Nanhai One, a Song Dynasty vessel (960-1279) that sunk more than 800 years ago. In a 40-day trial excavation, which ended in September, archaeologists uncovered the artifacts, helping to confirm that the ship was indeed a merchant vessel. During the excavation, archaeologists also found that parts of the ships cabin and deck had been well-preserved. The vessel was originally found in 1987 off…
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Come to Xian, and youll no doubt head straight to see the citys famous Terracotta Warriors exhibit, or the mausoleum of Chinas first emperor, Qin Shi Huang. You might make the trip out to the Big Wild Goose Pagoda or Maoling Mausoleum, and check out a couple of the museums, such as the Shaanxi History Museum, Xi’an Banpo Museum and the Xian Museum. But theres a lot more to Xian than these, admittedly stunning, sites. The ancient capital also has a stash of hidden treasures. Heres a handful of my favourites. Tomb of the Second Emperor Whether or not this…