Archaeologists, upon their discovery at the excavation site, were both astonished and awestruck to find a colossal one-ton golden lion within an ancient mausoleum near Sohu in Xinjiang, China. In any historical epoch, gold holds exceptional rarity, particularly during China’s ancient feudal period, where it symbolized wealth and nobility. Thus, an ancient tomb brimming with gold, including a one-ton golden lion, suggests that the tomb owner belonged to the noble and affluent class. Clearly, this individual was no ordinary person; their identity must have been extraordinary.
As reported by Sohu, in 1976, during the construction of a train station in Yuerongou, Xinjiang, China, archaeologists unearthed numerous ancient tombs, among which was a vast mausoleum adorned with an abundance of gold.
The quantity and quality of gold ᴜпeагtһed in the mausoleum was so astonishing that the entire community and even the world had to take notice. Archaeologists at the Xinjiang Institute of Cultural and Archaeological Relics in China stated that the ancient tomЬѕ belong to the period from the Spring and Autumn to the Qin and Han dynasties. The owners of the ancient tomЬѕ are ethnic minorities living in a nomadic way. Among the more than 80 ancient tomЬѕ they ᴜпeагtһed, there are four larger ones, in which one in the center is the largest and most valuable. The number of Ьᴜгіаɩ items ᴜпeагtһed in this tomЬ is extremely гагe and belongs to the category of “unprecedented.” That’s why it’s referred to as the “Golden tomЬ.”
The “Golden Tomb” is designated as Tomb 30 within the mausoleum complex. It reaches a depth of 7.1 meters and is a vertical tomb covered with pebbles, exhibiting a simple and rustic form that reflects the lifestyle of ancient nomads. Within the tomb, archaeologists discovered a total of 8 golden talismans adorned with tiger images, 4 golden tiger belt buckles, a lion talisman, and over 200 other gold ornaments such as gold beads and gold flowers. Notably, the golden lion carving, weighing over 1 ton, captivates observers with its remarkably lifelike depiction.
Furthermore, the ancient tomb reveals distinctive lacquer products, marking a significant discovery that helps resolve controversies surrounding China’s capability to produce flawless lacquerware during the Warring States, Qin, and Han dynasties. Due to various social reasons, information about the excavation of the “Golden Tomb” has not been widely publicized. Consequently, the details of the treasures within the tomb, including the impressive golden lion carving, have become a matter of public curiosity.
In particular, everyone wants to know who the owner of the “Golden Tomb” is and what his special background is. According to the information from the research results of archaeologicalists, the owner of this tomb turned out to be a beautiful woman about 30 years old. Archaeologists have found a hole drilled in the skull of the owner of the tomb. This may have been the cause of her death.
The nomadic people of ancient North Asia used to use the medical technique of drilling holes in the skull to reduce intracranial pressure to relieve headaches, but this is a complicated procedure, and a little carelessness can lead to death. Archaeologists suggest that the owners of the ancient tombs may belong to the Cheshi or the Huns, who are indigenous peoples with a long history in Xinjiang and are known for their use of gold. However, the materials and patterns in the tomb are also competitive with the Xianningnu nobles, who lived in the area in the late period and also used gold.
