Neolithic tombs with intact human remains found in South China

Archaeologists have found 32 ancient tombs, most of which date back to the late Neolithic Age, in South China's Guangdong province, and excavated 30 sets of human remains from them.

The tombs were found in the Jinlan Temple site located in the provincial capital Guangzhou during excavation works as part of a project led by the Guangzhou municipal institute of cultural relics and archaeology, which started in November 2020.

A total of 30 tombs date back to the late Neolithic Age, while two are from the Warring States Period (475-221 BC).

"Most of the human remains found in the late Neolithic tombs are well preserved, which is very rare in the area at the estuary of the Pearl River," said Yi Xibing, head of the institute. The remains will provide key research materials for the study of human physique and migration in the area before the Qin Dynasty (221-206 BC), Yi added.

Animal specimens, wells, ash pits and other cultural relics have also been unearthed during the excavation work under this project, according to the institute.