Can you tell me of some archaeological dig sites in China?
   Murdoch, Web Post

Dr. dig responds:
The most famous archaeological site in China is probably the tomb of Qin Shi Huangdi, first emperor of the Qin, which has yielded the famous terracotta army of more than 7000 life-sized clay figures provided to guard the dead king. But the succeeding Han dynasty has provided us with more impressive tombs. At Mancheng, to the south of Beijing, there are the rock-cut tombs of King Li Sheng and his consort. The tombs each consist of an entrance passage leading to four rooms filled with grave goods including chariots and horses. The king and his queen were buried wearing suits made of jade plaques sewn together by gold thread. Mawangdui, to the south of Changsha city, has three slightly earlier shaft-tombs hidden beneath a large earth mound. These have yielded three bodies (two male and one well-preserved female whose eyelashes are still intact) and a variety of grave goods including weapons, musical instruments, pottery, and books painted on silk.