17 More Ancient Tombs Discovered in China

Archeologists have discovered 17 more tombs of dukes who governed the Chinese state of Chin about 2,500 years ago, an official news report said Friday.

The discovery came during excavation of another duke’s tomb in northern Shaanxi province. Archeologists announced discovery of that tomb five days earlier and said it was the biggest tomb found in China this century, going down the equivalent of eight stories. It held the bodies of 180 slaves and gold, jade and bronze artifacts, the earlier report said.

“Archeologists believe that the discovery of tombs of many of the Chin state dukes is tantamount to retrieving a complete historical record on the slave society of Chin state,” a Chinese newspaper report said.