Excavated by:：Institute of Archaeology, Chinese Academy of Social Science; Hebei Cultural Relics Research Office; Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology of Henan

Excavation team leader:：Zhu Yanshi, Pan Weibing

The tomb at Hebei is located 9 kilometers to the south of Cixian county seat, 1.1 kilometers to the west of the Jianguang railway, and 7 kilometers east of Yecheng site. The partial tomb mound has survived on the ground, measuring 1.8 meters high. The tomb is north-south oriented, consisting of a ramp, compartments, ventilation shafts, and a tomb chamber, with a total length of 25.5 meters. An outer coffin and an inner coffin located at the west section of the tomb chamber are in a state of complete decay. One skeleton was found inside the coffin. To the east of the coffin are burial objects, including pottery vessels, ceramics, pottery figurines, miniature buildings, and an epitaph. Among more than 190 pieces of burial objects, 144 are painted figurines.

The ancient graveyard is located in Anyang, a major town in the country's early history in Central

China's Henan Province, Preliminary research and studies have convinced archeologists the cemetery dates back to the Eastern Wei Dynasty about 1,500 years ago. Several important artifacts discovered there have lead cultural experts and the media to call the excavation, " the most exciting archeological project of the 2007."

The largest tomb complex is completely made of bricks. A ten-meter lane leads to the chamber, flanked by three archways and a heavy stone gate. The occupants are believed to be a couple, a 50-year old man and a 30-year old woman. Stored with them are nearly 200 ceramic sculptures in the shapes of hogs, dogs, chicken, and cattle, reflecting life back then.

This discovery is significant for future research and helps to elucidate the territory of distribution of Eastern Wei imperial tombs. Since only Northern dynasties tomb that have not been disturbed, the combination of burial objects is intact and in a good state of preservation. They constitute some invaluable materials for reconstructing the social norms and techniques of the time. The exceptional murals and skillfully modeled figurines not only reflect the funerary customs and artistic style during the Eastern Wei, but they will also provide valuable data for our study on the general artistic trends in the Northern dynasties.