Controversy around Cao Cao's tomb

Some Chinese scholars argue that there is not enough evidence to confirm the tomb in Ha Nam is the burial place of Wei King Cao Cao.

Inside Cao Cao's tomb. Photo: Reuters.

The Global Times quoted Professor Yuan Jixi, a researcher of ancient literature at the People's University, who said the tomb was heavily excavated before archaeologists began excavating it. Therefore, the artifacts found may be fake and not enough to convince this is Cao Cao's grave. Professor added that the tomb's location is not the same as the historical records of the time.

Professor Gao Menghe of Fudan University also shares this view. He said it was still too early to say that it was a grave of the great Han Dynasty military. He called for samples of DNA from the skull found and compared to Cao Cao's descendants.

However, Pan Weibin, the head of the group, made a grave, rejecting the suspicions. He asserts that the two professors' opinions are not professional because they are not archaeologists.

Chinese archaeologists began excavating a grave believed to be of King Wei Cao Cao from the end of last year. The grave area is 740 m ² and divided into two compartments. Scientists believe that Cao Cao was buried with his wife and a maid. This discovery has just been published.

Cao Cao (155-220) was the last minister of the Eastern Han Dynasty before establishing the Wei Wei government during the Three Kingdoms period in China. He died in Luoyang, the capital of the Eastern Han Dynasty. After depicting the throne of King Han Hien De, Cao Cao's son, Cao Phi, venerated his father Thai To Vu Hoang De. Therefore his tomb is considered a royal tomb.