Chinese archeologists have unearthed in the northwestern Shaanxi Province the family graveyard of the country's first known anthropologist, a man who lived 900 years ago.

The cluster of 29 tombs -- 20 for adults and nine for children -- were found in Lantian County between December 2006 and December 2009, said Zhang Yun, a researcher with Shaanxi Provincial Institute of Archeology who led the excavations.

"Several epitaphs we unearthed were engraved with Lu Dalin's name, an evidence that these were Lu's family tombs," Zhang said Thursday.

Lu Dalin (1044-1091) lived in Lantian County throughout his life. He was the first in China to study ancient writings and bronze ware and was therefore recognized as the forefather of Chinese anthropologists.

The epitaphs suggested five generations of the family, including Lu himself, were buried at the site from 1074 to 1111, said Zhang.

Most of the tombs had been robbed before archeological excavations began in 2007, but a variety of sacrificial objects made of gold, silver, bronze, stone and porcelain were unearthed.

"Among them were a huge number of teasets, alcohol cups, incense burners and inkstones," said Zhang. "These were essential items for Chinese intellectuals in the old days."

The finding has been listed as one of the six most important archeological discoveries in China in 2009, an annual event sponsored by Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.

(Xinhua News Agency January 28, 2010)