Period: 10 States of Five Dynasties Period (907-960)
Listed in: 2004
Excavated by: the Cultural Relics and Archeological Research Institute of Guangzhou City
Archeological team leader: Feng Yongqu

  Site description

The site was discovered in early 2003. Excavation took place from June 2003 to October 2004. Two large brick-tombs of the Southern Han Period were found respectively at Qinggang of Beiting Village to the west of the Xiaogu Circular Islet and at Major Fragrant Hill. According to the excavation study, the tombs are the Kangling and Deling tombs of the Southern Han Period. The masters of the two tombs were respectively prefectural lords Liu Yan and Liu Yin of the Southern Han State. Large quantities of superior celadon wares and glazed pottery wares of the period were unearthed.

  Significance

The Kangling Tomb is by far the only tomb site of the period discovered with an integrated overall arrangement, providing new research materials on the development of ancient mausoleum hierarchies. A round mound on top of the Kangling Tomb indicates the style of a "combination of altar and tomb into one," which is the first example of its kind ever found in China.

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