A Preliminary Study On The Western Han Period Tombs With Earthen Shaft At Jinxiao Graveyard, In Hefei City

Researches in this article are based on 12 tombs (Western Han Period) unearthed in Jinxiao cemetery, using typology, statistics, comparison, culture factors analysis and other methods to analyze them fully. Applying archeological typology to classify tombs and burial objects to analyze the combination pattern of them, and to classify these 12 tombs into different levels and groups; on the basis of works above, classify tombs into different ages and infer roughly the absolute time of each age through comparing typical wares with that found in other places but dated clearly; after ranking and dating tombs and combining burial objects, this article concludes the forms of tomb and combination patterns of burial objects of each age, as well as the relationship among them with levels of tombs. Thus, a basic understanding about the burial system and custom of Western Han Period in this region will be clarified, and further discussion on owner’s status, possibility of family cemetery, internal hierarchy of family cemetery and cultural characteristics reflected by Jinxiao cemetery will be conducted.The structure of this article:Introduction includes two sections. The first section briefs the geographical environment and historical evolution of Hefei. The second section reviews respectively the tombs (Western Han Period) excavated in Hefei and nearby areas, and archeological researches on burial custom of Han Period, regional characters, classification as well as some specific problems.Chapter 1 includes two sections. The first section introduces the profile of Jinxiao cemetery and its excavation process; Researches on tombs carries cemetery and burial culture study, providing evidence to level analysis, age classification and dating. Therefore, the second section employs archeological typology to analyze forms of tomb, which can be divided into two types or four subtypes.Chapter 2, including two sections, mainly involves the statistics and classification of burial objects unearthed in Jinxiao cemetery. The first section categorizes all objects, and makes classified statistics according to texture, color and ornament of wares. The second section concerns researches on typical wares, classifying them to prepare for further horizontal and vertical comparisons.Chapter 3 includes two sections. The first section concludes combination patterns of burial objects unearthed in Jinxiao cemetery, and classifies all tombs into four levels based on size and form. The second section proposes five combination patterns with chronological implications which are concluded from typical wares. Then, on the basis of existing classifications, tombs are categorized into successive three ages and five stages. Besides, through cross-comparison between typical wares and that found in other places but dated clearly, the article infers roughly the absolute time of each ageChapter 4, including three sections, discusses about owner’s status, regionally burial customs, culture characteristics, etc.ConclusionExcavation and researches on tombs unearthed in Hefei’s Jinxiao cemetery are important supplement to materials of Western Han Period funeral customs of central Anhui, providing reliable references on combination patterns of burial objects, chronological classification and dating inference to further excavation, organizing and researches of Western Han Period tombs in this region. Meanwhile, analysis and researches on owner’s status, family cemetery as well as culture characteristics would provide enriched content and fresh ideas for future researchers.