Decades of excavation brings Han Dynasty back to life

A lacquerware vase excavated from the tombs. CHINA DAILY

Yu Yanjiao, director and researcher at Hunan Museum's Mawangdui Han Tombs and Collection Research Exhibition Center, said the quantity of unearthed artifacts from the tombs is massive, with a broad interdisciplinary scope.

There are still many unsolved mysteries despite 50 years of excavation, requiring extensive research by scholars through multidisciplinary collaboration and the use of technology, she added.

Liu Zhao, director of the Center for Research on Chinese Excavated Classics and Paleography at Fudan University in Shanghai, said the excavated bamboo and silk manuscripts contain 130,000 characters, and much work remains to explain their artistic value.

"Although 50 years is a long time in a researcher's career, it's a very short time from the perspective of overall academic development," Liu said.

He encouraged researchers from around the world, especially young people, to join the efforts. Liu believes that with continuous and further exploration, coupled with the assistance of new technologies, future studies will yield more results.

zoushuo@chinadaily.com.cn