Unearthed chariots unveil China noble travel ritual 2,000 years ago

Two chariots equipped with musical instruments have been found in a well-preserved cemetery in east China's Jiangxi Province, giving valuable clues to the travel rituals of nobles 2,000 years ago.

Archaeologists discovered two chariot models -- one equipped with "chunyu", a kind of bronze bell, four bronze cymbals and drums -- in the corridor of the main tomb of "Haihunhou" (Marquis of Haihun) dating back to the Western Han Dynasty (206 B.C.- 25 A.D.).

"This discovery seems to indicate the musical chariots were driven in front of noblemen when they travelled," said Xin Lixiang of the China National Museum, who heads the team at the site in Nanchang, capital of Jiangxi.

According to Xin, in ancient military custom beating drums meant advancing while bronze instruments meant withdrawal.

"We first discovered the chariot with chunyu and cymbals and later found drum pieces in the silt nearby," said Liu Jun, an archaeologist.

He said the two chariots will be restored to their original condition.

The Haihunhou cemetery covers some 40,000 square meters with eight tombs and a chariot burial site with walls that stretch for almost 900 meters.

Archeologists suspect that the main tomb is that of Liu He, grandson of Emperor Wu, the greatest ruler of Han Dynasty, one of the most prosperous periods in China's history. Liu was given the title "Haihunhou" after he was deposed as emperor after only 27 days, dethroned by the royal clan because of his lack of talent and morals. Haihun is the ancient name of a very small kingdom in the north of Jiangxi.

The team have found five well-preserved horse-drawn vehicles, more than 10 tonnes of Wuzhu bronze coins together with thousands of other gold, bronze and iron items, unearthed along with jade articles, wood tablets and bamboo slips.

The excavation began in 2011. The next stage of the archeological work will be to look for items locked in the coffin of the central mausoleum. Endi