Jewelry set encrusted with precious jewels in a Chinese noble grave

Chinese archaeologists found a necklace of thousands of pearl beads and beautiful gold earrings in a 1,500-year-old tomb of a noble.

According to Live Science, the tomb was discovered in 2011 in Datong City in Shanxi Province, China. The expert team at Dai Dong Archaeological Institute found the tomb while surveying the area before a construction project. They excavated the grave, preserved artifacts and restored the necklace.

The exquisite earrings of the tomb master.(Photo: Chinese Cultural Heritage).

The owner of Farong's grave is a woman of Chinese aristocracy. The skeleton of the woman placed in a coffin deep underground. "The first part rests on a lemon-yellow pillow, inside the pillow are two twisted motifs , " the archaeological group shared in the article published in the Chinese Cultural Heritage magazine. Researchers have not yet determined the age when the woman died.

Earrings with multiple beads attached.(Photo: Chinese Cultural Heritage).

The stela at the entrance to the grave engraved the words "Han Farong, wife of Cui Zhen". In addition to Farong's grave, the team also discovered two other graves nearby.

Based on the tomb design and artifacts found inside, archaeologists believe that the woman lived about 1,500 years ago, several decades before the Northern Wei Dynasty (386-534) collapsed. According to historical records, Dai Dong City, where the woman was buried, was the capital of the North Wei house until 494.

The necklace is made of 5,000 beads.(Photo: Chinese Cultural Heritage).

The earrings of archaeologists found gold, shaped like human faces and dragons."People with curly hair, deep eyes and a high nose, wearing sequin patterned necklaces on their necks and carrying lotus flowers under their shoulders," the study authors said. In addition, the pair of earrings also has the appearance of teardrop-shaped gemstones, gold beaded chains and large-sized amethyst.

"In recent years, many gold earrings have been unearthed from the Northern Wei tombs, but the earrings in this grave are definitely the most sophisticated," the archaeologists commented.

Inside the 1,500-year-old tomb of a noble woman.(Photo: Chinese Cultural Heritage).

Farong also wore a necklace from about 5,000 beads. However, the string to chain the jewel has decomposed. Because the particles are arranged in a seamless manner, the team can rebuild the chain based on the particle position at the time of excavation.

The line consists of 10 large and small gold beads, 9 flat gold pieces, two crystal beads, 42 pearls and over 4,800 small glass beads. Glass beads are about the size of millet, blue and black, all flat with piercing holes in the middle.