Mawangdui — Han Silk Tombs Changsha
Western Han (202 BCE–9 CE; Tomb 1 168 BCE Lady Dai)·Han Chinese (Changsha Kingdom)·🇨🇳 Hunan Province, Changsha, east suburb, Liuyang River, China
About
About Mawangdui — Han Silk Tombs Changsha
Changsha Mawangdui excavated 1972–74, Lady Dai mummy 2100 yrs, 3000 objects and Mawangdui Silk Texts (Tao Te Ching). Recorded context — Period: Western Han (202 BCE–9 CE; Tomb 1 168 BCE Lady Dai); Culture: Han Chinese (Changsha Kingdom); Field status: excavated; Materials: lacquer wood, silk, charcoal, white clay; Condition: museum — preserved Lady Dai at Hunan Museum.
Why it mattersKey Han Chinese (Changsha Kingdom) tumulus with stratified sequence and regional typology.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Trade network extent
- 02Astronomical alignment
Theories
- 01Territorial marker
- 02Ceremonial centre
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- c. 168 BCE Tomb 1 (Lady Dai Xin Zhui); 165 BCE Tomb 2; 168 BCE Tomb 3 son
- Period
- Western Han (202 BCE–9 CE; Tomb 1 168 BCE Lady Dai)
- Culture
- Han Chinese (Changsha Kingdom)
- Purpose
- Han noble tumuli with lacquered triple coffins, silk manuscripts and preserved Lady Dai mummy
- Rediscovered
- Modern excavation 1971
- Excavation
- Excavated
c. 168 BCE Tomb 1 (Lady Dai Xin Zhui); 165 BCE Tomb 2; 168 BCE Tomb 3 son
Initial construction / first occupation at Mawangdui — Han Silk Tombs Changsha
1970 excavation
Modern rediscovery and scientific excavation of Mawangdui — Han Silk Tombs Changsha
On the ground
Structures & features
28.2080° N · 113.0220° E · 45 m · 3 mapped features
- Mawangdui — Han Silk Tombs Changsha — Principal Chamberchamberchamber at Mawangdui — Han Silk Tombs Changsha — outlier feature28.2076° N · 113.0209° E
- Mawangdui — Han Silk Tombs Changsha — Northern Dromosdromosdromos at Mawangdui — Han Silk Tombs Changsha — subsidiary complex28.2079° N · 113.0204° E
- Mawangdui — Han Silk Tombs Changsha — Mound Annex 3moundmound at Mawangdui — Han Silk Tombs Changsha — subsidiary complex28.2092° N · 113.0239° E
Gallery