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History => Ancient and Medieval History => Topic started by: Imperial Dave on April 04, 2025, 09:17:30 PM

Title: Archaeologists afraid of China's first emperor's tomb
Post by: Imperial Dave on April 04, 2025, 09:17:30 PM
https://www.indy100.com/news/chinas-first-emperor-tomb-booby-traps

Me too....
Title: Re: Archaeologists afraid of China's fits emperor's tomb
Post by: Ian61 on April 04, 2025, 10:37:51 PM
This is not new news but it still very surprising they haven't done more than they seem too have done. I would be testing for mercury in the area above and around the site. I can't believe no tentative explorations have been made given the tech now at archaeologists beck and call. ???
Title: Re: Archaeologists afraid of China's fits emperor's tomb
Post by: stevenneate on April 05, 2025, 09:48:31 AM
Send in Han conscripts to trip the booby-traps. Indiana Jones wouldn't hesitate.
Title: Re: Archaeologists afraid of China's fits emperor's tomb
Post by: Nick Harbud on April 05, 2025, 11:59:17 AM
Traditionally in China, the reasons for leaving former rulers' tombs undisturbed have less to do with heavy metal poisoning and more with releasing the deceased's spirit out into the world where it will take a horrible revenge not only on former enemies, but anyone else that they feel like.  One way of preventing this was to encase the corpse in a jade suit.

Si_lü_yu_yi.jpg

If you ever find yourself in Guangzhou, it is worth popping into the Museum of the Nanyue KIng Zhao Mo's Mausoleum (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Museum_of_the_Mausoleum_of_the_Nanyue_King).  For millennia, this site was left undisturbed until some developers decided to build a high rise edifice on it.  In digging the foundations, they came across the tomb.  Subsequently, it was decided to preserve this for public viewing and construct the new building elsewhere.

8)
Title: Re: Archaeologists afraid of China's fits emperor's tomb
Post by: Imperial Dave on April 05, 2025, 07:22:46 PM
Ever watched The Mummy...... :o
Title: Re: Archaeologists afraid of China's fits emperor's tomb
Post by: stevenneate on April 06, 2025, 12:54:38 PM
Sends shivers down my spine that Imhotep will be back.
Title: Re: Archaeologists afraid of China's fits emperor's tomb
Post by: Imperial Dave on April 06, 2025, 06:12:18 PM
Watch out for the scarab 🪲
Title: Re: Archaeologists afraid of China's first emperor's tomb
Post by: Erpingham on April 06, 2025, 07:06:27 PM
Poor Imhotep.  Invent pyramids, climb the slippery pole to deification and all you are remembered for is wandering round in bandages killing people.
Title: Re: Archaeologists afraid of China's first emperor's tomb
Post by: Imperial Dave on April 06, 2025, 07:23:16 PM
Bless....  ;D
Title: Re: Archaeologists afraid of China's first emperor's tomb
Post by: stevenneate on April 07, 2025, 03:19:22 AM
I think Nick's right on this one, that the superstition of a terrible curse has effectively dissuaded anyone from opening it. Nice to see that one of these curses actually worked.
Title: Re: Archaeologists afraid of China's first emperor's tomb
Post by: Imperial Dave on April 07, 2025, 05:36:03 AM
This bit is cursed.... :o