The archaeological team did not rest long before excavating the ancient tomb again. The white plaster mud and charcoal were all used by the ancients to protect and seal the tomb chamber. The white plaster mud alone was sixty or seventy centimeters thick, completely surrounding the entire tomb chamber. stand up.
As for the white paste, there are thirty to forty centimeters of charcoal inside, which is used to protect the entire tomb from moisture. After the archaeological team cleaned up the white paste and charcoal, the coffin board was exposed.
Seeing that the real coffin was so well preserved, everyone became cautious. The simple and rude locals had already evacuated, and all the professionals from the archaeological team were in charge. Zhou Ming was also lucky enough to be on the front line of archaeology.
I saw that the coffin was still covered with a layer of bamboo mat. Just when the charcoal had just been cleaned, the bamboo mat on the coffin was still yellow, just like brand new. However, after about an hour, the bamboo mat quickly The oxidation turned black, which made everyone feel sad and helpless.
The word "家" was written on the bamboo mat, and what the word "家" meant was unknown to the archaeologists present. After opening the bamboo mat and seeing the freshness of the wood on the outside of the coffin, all the archaeologists I was in shock again.
The coffin boards are made of yellow fir, with a flat and smooth surface. After opening the first layer of coffin boards, they found that there was a second layer. Everyone worked together to open the second layer of coffin boards, and there was a third layer of thin partitions inside. When the thin partition was opened again, all the archaeologists present were shocked. They saw a dazzling array of items inside, including a large number of complete lacquerware and wooden figurines, which the archaeologists present had never seen before.
In the side trough of this huge coffin chamber, which is 6.67 meters long, 4.48 meters wide and 28 meters high, archaeologists took out a total of 186 pieces of lacquerware, including tripods, boxes, earrings, plates, spoons and other daily utensils. It can really be said to be a dazzling array of things.
Among these exquisite lacquerware, there are 149 pieces of lacquerware with characters written on the surface using black lacquer and cinnabar. The most eye-catching piece of lacquerware has the words "彪(dai)houjia" written on it, which is very helpful in determining the identity of the tomb owner. Very helpful.
"Bie Hou?" Zhou Ming pretended to be surprised, and then guessed at Chen Jianxin and Xiong Liren, "Professor Chen, Teacher Xiong, could this Bie Hou be the first generation Bie Hou Li Cang?"
"Ah? Li Cang?" Chen Jianxin and Xiong Liren looked at each other in shock, and soon nodded in agreement, "It is really possible that Li Cang will be named a lieutenant and serve as the prime minister of Changsha."
While Zhou Ming, Chen Jianxin, and Xiong Liren were talking, an archaeologist unexpectedly opened a lacquer tripod without authorization, and then saw some lotus root slices in their original shape inside. Everyone had not yet recovered from the shock. This person The archaeologists actually reached out and tried to take out the lotus root slices.
"Stop! Who told you to use your hands?" Zhou Ming could no longer hold back his anger and stopped the archaeologist's reckless behavior.
"I... I just want to hold out the lotus root slices?" The man was stunned by Zhou Ming's roar.
"Now things here cannot be touched casually. Special instruments and equipment must be used. We are not brutal and brutal thieves. We are here to protect cultural relics."
"Han Chunming is right! Cover this lacquer tripod quickly and don't touch or open it at will." Xiong Liren, as the person in charge of this archeology, also agreed with Zhou Ming's point of view.
"Thank you, Teacher Xiong, for your support."
The next excavation work came to the forefront. Everyone finally saw a four-layer inner coffin. The outermost layer was wrapped in silk. On the silk, there was a silk painting praying for the soul to ascend to heaven, depicting heaven and earthly life.
In the center of the silk painting is a gorgeously dressed lady. Her dress and temperament have the atmosphere of that distant era. This is probably the image of the tomb owner during his lifetime.
Zhou Ming saw the crowds of people around him and turned to look at Chen Jianxin and Xiong Liren, "Professor Chen, Teacher Xiong, should we take the inner coffin back to the museum first?"
"Ah?" Xiong Liren and Chen Jianxin finally woke up from their obsession and turned to look at the crowd around them, "Okay! Just to be on the safe side, we might as well take it back to the museum!"
Then the archaeologists worked together to take out the inner coffin, and when they were about to take it back to the museum, they heard an archaeologist yelling in surprise, "Professor Chen, Teacher Xiong, there is a new discovery here."
Zhou Ming followed Xiong Liren and Chen Jianxin to look quickly. It turned out that the archaeologists found a horny seal in the mud seal and the dressing box. The seal said "Concubine Xin Zhui" on it.
"Xin Zhui? It seems that the owner of the tomb is called Xin Zhui." Xiong Liren and Chen Jianxin were pleasantly surprised.
Then everyone rushed back to the museum overnight and carefully placed the inner coffin in the museum. Zhou Ming saw that the archaeologists were gearing up to open the inner coffin, and he couldn't help but want to go out and stop them.
"Teacher Xiong, I have some ideas, can I tell you?" Zhou Ming looked at Xiong Liren, the leader of the archaeological team.
"Ah? Han Chunming, tell me." Xiong Liren looked at Zhou Ming in surprise.
"Teacher Xiong, our current conditions are poor and the 6,000 yuan of funds has been used up long ago. We really do not have the conditions to open the inner coffin, so can we not open the inner coffin for the time being?"
"this……"
"Teacher Xiong, we are here to protect the cultural relics, not the vandals. If there is any damage to the museum because of our lack of preparation, it will be our fault."
"Professor Chen, what do you think?" Xiong Liren looked at Chen Jianxin.
"I also agree with Han Chunming's idea. It would be too hasty to open the inner coffin immediately." Chen Jianxin said with a smile, agreeing with Zhou Ming.
"Well! Han Chunming, continue to share your thoughts." Xiong Liren turned to look at Zhou Ming again.
"Teacher Xiong, Professor Chen, why don't we temporarily put aside the opening of the inner coffin and excavate and protect Tomb No. 2 and Tomb No. 3 as soon as possible. At the same time, we will mobilize archaeological experts and even medical experts to higher-level units. Of course, there will be other preliminary preparations."
"Well, okay! I'll do as you say." Xiong Liren nodded in agreement, then smiled and arranged, "I will write a report in person immediately and apply for support from my superiors."
Chen Jianxin smiled and patted Zhou Ming on the shoulder, "Han Chunming, you did a good job today. It was you who stopped us from fighting greed."
"Professor, you are exaggerating."
"Han Chunming, I'm not being serious at all." Chen Jianxin suddenly sighed, and then said with some compassion, "The excavation of Dingling in the past few years was a tragedy for our entire archaeological community, because our technology was too backward and we were not well prepared. full."
"Professor, we will definitely get better and better."
"Well, Han Chunming, you are right! We will get better and better."
…
Just when everyone wanted to continue excavating Tomb No. 2 and Tomb No. 3, they were suddenly stopped by the superior unit because the discovery of Tomb No. 1 was too important and the superior unit had to treat it with caution.
Xiong Liren's report was also approved by the superior unit, and many decentralized Qin and Han historians and archaeological experts were transferred from various places. At the same time, many medical experts were invited from Xiangya Hospital. After preparing all the conditions, the start Treatment of the inner coffin.
"I'll go! Is this a huge battle?" A doctor from Xiangya Hospital said in shock as he looked at the grand scene in front of him.
"Yes! Our Xiangya Hospital has selected experts from the anatomy, histology, pathology, microbiology, radiology and surgery departments."
Zhou Ming, who was watching, also heard the discussion of the doctors at Xiangya Hospital. Thinking of what would happen next, Zhou Ming could already foresee their shock.
Zhou Ming and others worked together to open the coffin lid, and then found that the body was wrapped in a pile, and the coffin was all filled with coffin liquid. The coffin liquid at this time was transparent. The archaeologists took out the tools prepared in advance and pulled out all the coffins. liquid.
These silk clothes looked very colorful, but they were as soft as tofu when pressed with your hands. She couldn't move them, let alone help her untie them.
At this time, the surgical experts from Xiangya Hospital came in handy. The surgical experts carefully picked up the scalpel and cut open the silk scarf covering the head, middle and lower parts, so that they could be restored in the future.
After more than two thousand years of time traveling, the once-splendid silk festered like mud. However, under the gentle strokes of the surgeon's scalpel, the silk fabrics in the inner coffin were gradually taken out, and a female corpse from more than two thousand years ago was completely revealed. come out.
The experts who were still disapproving just now were all stunned, because the female corpse's two eyeballs had protruded from the eye sockets, even the tongue was sticking out, and the skin still had a certain degree of toughness.
What shocked the experts most was that intact cells were actually found in the cartilage of the female corpse's throat. Cells cannot withstand decay, so medical experts immediately injected the female corpse with a special stabilizer.
"It's incredible! This is really amazing!" At this time, everyone looked at the female corpse in shock, no longer disapproving at the beginning.
Because the preparations were particularly thorough this time, all the silk fabrics and corpses in the inner coffin were preserved to the greatest extent possible without any damage.
"Han Chunming, you are right!" At this time, Xiong Liren patted Zhou Ming's shoulder with a thankful look on his face.
"Teacher Xiong, I also have the idea of being careful and making no big mistakes. Anyway, I will never go wrong."
"Han Chunming, you are right! From now on, our archeology must be based on the principle of being careful and not making big mistakes."
Next, under the protection of many archaeological experts and medical experts, the female corpse was completely protected. Everyone looked at the female corpse in front of them excitedly, feeling that everything was so magical.
…
The appearance of the female corpse shocked the superior units, and then approved the continued excavation of Tomb No. 2 and Tomb No. 3. Because more archaeological experts were mobilized, Zhou Ming, a small character, could only watch and attack from the side.
"Han Chunming, it will take a long time to actually excavate Tomb No. 2 and Tomb No. 3. I will give you a few days off to go back to the capital to see your family." Professor Chen Jianxin looked at Zhou Ming with a smile and said.
"Okay! Professor."
"Well, I'll call you when we start digging here."
"Thank you Professor, goodbye!"
"goodbye!"
It has been more than a year since Zhou Ming came to Changsha this time, and he really needed to go back to the capital, otherwise Han Mu and his family would not know what to think about, so Zhou Ming immediately bought a train ticket from Changsha to the capital.
It's the beginning of 2073, and the capital is still the same. When Zhou Ming came to the courtyard where his home is located, he didn't feel much change.
"Mom, I'm back."
"Ah? Chunming, why did you stay here for so long this time?" Mother Han looked at her youngest son in surprise.
"Haha, the work there is too busy. I won't be able to stay in the capital for a few days before I have to rush back to Changsha, Hunan."
"Ah? We have to rush back!" Mother Han looked at Zhou Ming distressedly, and then she realized that Zhou Ming was a lot darker, "Chunming, you must be suffering, this is much darker than before."
"Hey, the darker it is, the more masculine it is."
"You brat, you talk nonsense. It's better to look whiter." Mother Han slapped the much stronger Zhou Ming angrily, and then quickly thought of cooking, "Chunming, I'm going to cook for you. You must be Be hungry!”
"Haha, okay! I also want to eat the food you cooked."
…
When Zhou Ming returned to Changsha, Hunan, it was already December 1973. The archaeological team in Mawangdui began excavation work again. When the archaeologists dug out the tomb, they regretfully discovered that the tomb was almost It was visited many times by tomb robbers a hundred years ago. Not only was the so-called tomb owner nowhere to be found, but there were also very few items left.
But when everyone was cleaning the tomb, they found three very important seals. One seal was engraved with the private seal of "Li Cang", while the other two were official seals, one of which was engraved with "Prime Minister of Changsha" , and the other seal is engraved with "Seal of Bian Hou", which can prove that the owner of tomb No. 2 is Li Cang.
According to the ancient burial system, after the death of husband and wife, they will be buried in the same place in the order of the man on the left and the woman on the right. Since Tomb No. 2 on the left is Li Cang, the one on the right should be Li Cang's woman.
At this time, the identity of the owner of this luxurious tomb in Mawangdui Tomb No. 1 was finally clear. She was the wife of Bianhou Licang, the Prime Minister of Changsha in the Western Han Dynasty, and her name was Mrs. Xin Zhui.
"Teacher Xiong, Professor Chen, do you think Mawangdui is the family cemetery of Bianhou?" Zhou Ming looked at Xiong Liren and Chen Jianxin with a speculative look on his face.
"Well, it's very possible." Xiong Liren and Chen Jianxin nodded in agreement, and then analyzed again and said, "When Tomb No. 3 is excavated, I hope there will be more important discoveries."
When Tomb No. 3 was excavated, it was already May 1974. Zhou Ming had been in Changsha for two and a half years. Except for a trip back to the capital, he spent most of his time in the Mawangdui Han Tomb in Changsha.
No ancient corpses were unearthed in Tomb No. 3, but a large number of funerary objects with the word "彰hou" were unearthed. In addition to lacquerware, more than 50 ancient silk books with a total of more than 100,000 words were unearthed, which serve as a basis for the study of ancient Chinese history and philosophical thought. A wealth of new material is provided.
According to the final statistics, this time the Mawangdui Tomb unearthed a thousand-year-old female corpse, silk paintings, plain gauze Zen clothes, Han Dynasty silk books, and lacquerware. The mystery of the incorruptibility of this female corpse has become the most important issue.
…
