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Han Dynasty

A pair of bronze pots, one containing the first real example of an ancient Chinese elixir of life, were unearthed from a Western Han Dynasty tomb in Luoyang, Henan Province.
3 March, 2019 - 18:56 Alicia McDermott

Elixir of Life Found: 2,000-Year-Old Bottles Contain First Known Chinese ‘Immortality Medicine’

Who wants to live forever? This has been a dream for many people all around the world for a very long time. It was written about in several ancient texts, and legends and myths suggest some people...
Eastern Han Tomb (CC by SA 3.0). Inset: Ancient Chinese dragon made from gold (Lukas Hlavac / Adobe Stock)
18 February, 2019 - 13:54 dhwty

Spectacular Royal Han Tombs Reveal Wealth and Glory of China’s Golden Age

The Han Dynasty was China’s second imperial dynasty and succeeded the Qin Dynasty . This dynasty ruled China for about 400 years, during which there were more than 20 emperors on the throne. Many of...
Lottery in China from 1910.
10 January, 2019 - 22:58 dhwty

From Dividing Biblical Lands to Avoiding Execution In Rome, Public Life Has a Long History of Lotteries

On the 19th of November 1994, the first draw of the UK’s National Lottery took place. The jackpot was worth £5.8 million and was shared between seven ticket holders. The history of lotteries, however...
This is the huge ‘Chinese Pyramid’ mound of the Maoling Mausoleum of Emperor Wu of Han.
30 November, 2018 - 01:49 ancient-origins

Archeoastronomy Reveals Cosmic Dynastic Divide in Chinese Burial Pyramids

Politecnico di Milano The funerary complex of the first Chinese emperor of the Qin dynasty (3th century BC) is one of the most famous archaeological sites in the world. This is of course due to the...
Aerial view of an ancient irrigation system discovered in the foothills of Xinjiang, China.
6 January, 2018 - 01:58 ancient-origins

Did Ancient Irrigation Technology Travel Silk Road?

Using satellite imaging and drone reconnaissance, archaeologists from Washington University in St. Louis have discovered an ancient irrigation system that allowed a farming community in arid...
Zhang Heng's odometer, a mechanical carriage.
13 September, 2017 - 14:01 ancient-origins

The Famous Ancient Chinese Inventions of Zhang Heng

Zhang Heng (78-139 AD) was a Chinese astronomer, mathematician, inventor, geographer, cartographer, artist, poet, statesman, and literary scholar from Nanyang, Henan Province, China. He is noted for...
Battle between the Xiongnu (Hun) and the Han Dynasty
22 August, 2017 - 18:44 Theodoros Karasavvas

Victory Over the Hun: Famous Lost Account of Han Dynasty Triumph Found Carved onto Mongolian Mountain

Archaeologists claim to have rediscovered a triumphant account of China’s ancient military which had been inscribed in cliff face. According to the experts, the inscription narrates how the Han...
Was it Love or Witchcraft? The Magical Practices of Chinese Empress Chen Jiao
10 February, 2017 - 13:27 Natalia Klimczak

Was it Love or Witchcraft? The Magical Practices of Chinese Empress Chen Jiao

Usually, the Empress of the Han Dynasty was invincible, untouchable, and protected by the law more than anyone else. However, in the case of Empress Chen of Wu, the accusation of practicing black...
Detail of the hand section of the jade burial suit of Liu Sui, Prince of Liang, of Western Han
23 January, 2017 - 13:50 Natalia Klimczak

Fit for a King: Royals of Ancient China Buried in Jade Ceremonial Suits

Perceptions of the afterlife have inspired thousands of weird ideas for burial rituals around the world. One example comes in form of the remarkably beautiful and fascinating ceremonial suits created...
Personal ‘hygiene sticks’ used in toilets on the Silk Road. Hui-Yuan Yeh. Reproduced from the Journal of Archaeological Science
23 July, 2016 - 03:51 ancient-origins

2,000-Year-Old Feces from the Silk Road Reveal Spread of Infectious Diseases

Once travelled by famous historical figures such as Marco Polo and Genghis Khan, the Silk Road was a hugely important network of transport routes connecting eastern China with Central Asia, the...
The Legendary 1,000-ft White Pyramid of Xian
20 December, 2014 - 12:39 aprilholloway

In Search of the Legendary 1,000-ft White Pyramid of Xian

Scattered across an isolated, flat plain in Shaanxi Province, near the ancient capital of Xi’an, lie dozens of spectacular pyramid mounds that are little known outside China. Mixed in with the...
Detail of a mural from an Eastern Han tomb with artificial pigment
23 November, 2014 - 01:03 aprilholloway

Han Purple: A 2,800-year-old artificial pigment that quantum physicists are trying to understand

Han purple is an artificial pigment created by the Chinese over 2,500 years ago, which was used in wall paintings and to decorate the famous terracotta warriors, as well as ceramics, metal ware, and...
The Trung Sister freedom fighters
12 October, 2014 - 12:52 mrreese

Hell hath no fury like the Trung Sister freedom fighters

Throughout history, Vietnamese women have been instrumental in resisting foreign domination. The most well-known of these heroines are the Trung sisters, who led the first national uprising against...
Ancient Chinese palace in Siberia
30 August, 2014 - 14:14 aprilholloway

What was an ancient Chinese palace doing in the enemy territory of Siberia?

Located in the majestic Altai-Sayan Mountains in the south of Siberia, the city of Abakan has a long and rich history going back thousands of years. But in the 1940s, archaeologists found something...
Han Dynasty tombs in China
15 June, 2014 - 12:24 aprilholloway

Archaeologists announce rare discovery of more than 100 Han Dynasty tombs in China

Chinese archaeologists have discovered more than one hundred tombs from the Han Dynasty (25-220 AD) in Jiangsu province, Eastern China. Such a large cluster of Han tombs are a rare discovery and...