(Photo/Zhao Yaling)

On December 18, Nanjing University hosted a book launch detailing the excavations of a tomb from the Eastern Jin Dynasty (317-420) found at the university’s Gulou campus.

The tomb was discovered in April 1972 in the north zone of the Gulou campus. A team from the university’s Department of History began the excavation under the leadership of renowned archaeologist Jiang Zanchu.

The tomb, measuring 8.04 meters long from north to south and 9.9 meters wide from east to west, comprises tomb doors, tunnels and chambers. Despite being previously robbed, the excavations have unearthed over 100 pieces of relics, including precious artifacts indicative of the tomb owner’s imperial status, such as those with dragon and tiger designs as well as gold and silver wares.

The artifacts from the tomb have been preserved at the Nanjing University Museum. Since 2017, led by Professor Zhang Xuefeng, the university’s museum and the Institute of the Six Dynasties have been dedicated to organizing and researching the relics, culminating in this comprehensive report.

Prior to the publication, the museum also hosted an exhibition, showcasing the relics to the public for the first time.