China's top archaeological discoveries of 2025

6. The Badam East cemetery in Turpan, Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region

The Badam East cemetery contains burial remains dating from the Jin (265-420) to the Tang (618-907) dynasties. From 2022 to 2025, archaeologists conducted continuous, proactive excavations at the site. A total of 18 tombs from the Sixteen Kingdoms period (304-439) and nine tombs from the Tang Dynasty were cleared, yielding over 600 artifacts, including two sets of epitaphs. These findings provide crucial physical materials for in-depth research on state governance, cultural integration, and Silk Road exchanges during the Jin and Tang periods.