Archaeologists dig up more clues about ancient Pingyao city

Stone epitaphs from the ancient tomb discovered in Yanliang village, Pingyao county. [Photo/Shanxi Academy of Archeology] 

The Shanxi Academy of Archaeology recently released information about the excavation of an ancient tomb in Pingyao county, North China's Shanxi province, indicating how the historic city was built and organized.

Located in Yanliang village of Yuebi township, the tomb was discovered accidentally while some new local infrastructure was being established. In April 2022, a joint team composed of the academy and the Pingyao Cultural Relics Institute conducted emergency excavations at the site.

Dating back to the middle Tang Dynasty (618-907), the tomb provides a chronological framework for the regional tombs in Pingyao of that period. 

The unearthed epitaphs from the stone tomb provide concrete evidence that the Ancient City of Pingyao was built on the foundation of a structure built in the Tang Dynasty, offering important material evidence about the history of this UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site. 

Furthermore, the information mentioned in the epitaphs provides important clues to understanding the local administrative divisions and the system of military conscription during that period.