Since its discovery in 2011, the tomb of lesser-known emperor Liu He has given up a wealth of archaeological treasures, including 2 million bronze coins as well as some 20,000 other stunning artifacts.
Jiangxi Provincial Institute of Cultural Relics and ArchaeologyThe intricate fish-scale armor found inside the tomb of Liu He.
During excavations of the tomb of ancient Chinese Emperor Liu He, archaeologists uncovered more than 6,000 pieces of fish-scale armor.
Made of iron, copper, and leather, this find marks the first discovery of composite armor made out of multiple materials from the Han dynasty period, highlighting the level of skilled craftsmanship in the region more than 2,000 years ago.
Emperor Liu He Leaves Office In Disgrace, But Nevertheless Receives A Lavish Burial
Liu He, born circa 92 B.C.E, was the grandson of Emperor Wu, one of the Han dynasty’s most influential rulers. Following his father’s death in 88 B.C.E., when he was just four years old, Liu He became the Prince of Changyi.
In 74 B.C.E., after the death of his uncle, Emperor Zhao, Liu He ascended to the throne, largely due to the influence of the powerful minister Huo Guang. However, his reign was exceptionally brief, lasting only 27 days.
Historical accounts suggest that his behavior during this period of mourning for his uncle was deemed inappropriate, leading to his swift deposition. In fact, officials came up with a list of 1,127 citations for misconduct, including indulging in feasts, games, and sex when he was supposed to be in mourning.
Consequently, he left office in shame and was even omitted from the official list of Han emperors.
Wikimedia CommonsA bronze, goose-shaped lamp found in Liu He’s tomb.
After his removal, Liu He was stripped of his princely title and demoted to commoner status. Later, he was granted the title Marquis of Haihun and given a small fiefdom in what is now Jiangxi Province. He lived out his days there until his death on September 8, 59 B.C.E.
But despite his career ending in disgrace, he nevertheless received an opulent burial. In recent years, following its discovery in 2011, Liu He’s tomb has been a significant archaeological site.
Excavations at Liu He’s tomb have revealed 2 million coins as well as thousands of remarkable artifacts. Over the past decade, more than 20,000 relics have been recovered, including the largest amount of gold ever discovered in a Han tomb, bronze goose-shaped lamps, 12 shields, and 5,200 wooden tablets and bamboo slips containing various writings such as poetry, a game manual, and historical chronicles.
And the most recent discovery in the tomb was a whopping 6,000 pieces of remarkable fish-scale armor.
Intricate Fish-Scale Armor Is Discovered In Liu He’s Tomb
Jiangxi Provincial Institute of Cultural Relics and ArchaeologyThe fish-scale armor found in the tomb of ancient Chinese Emperor Liu He.
As the South China Morning Post initially reported, archaeologists working within Liu He’s tomb found more than 6,000 pieces of fish-scale armor composed of lacquered iron, copper, and leather.
According to archaeologists, this marks the first example of multi-material armor dating from the Han dynasty, while other unearthed examples were instead made only from a single type of material. Using the pieces, researchers have now reconstructed the armor, showcasing the remarkable craftsmanship of the time.
The fish-scale armor was found two years ago in an armory room within the tomb’s chambers, in a large pile of swords. Rising groundwater posed a threat to the metal armor, so researchers removed the entire set in a soil block and transported it to a laboratory at the Nanchang Museum of the Han Dynasty Haihunhou State Ruins.
“The tomb is known to have undergone earthquakes and the rising groundwater level caused by the intrusion of the Poyang Lake, China’s largest freshwater lake,” Yang Jun, head of the excavation team, told the Global Times.
Bai Rongjin, a research fellow with the Institute of Archaeology, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, said that “the smallest armor piece was only one centimeter wide and 0.2 centimeters thick.”
Bai further explained that armor pieces typically measure between four and 10 centimeters, suggesting that these smaller armor pieces indicate a more refined armor-making process.
Given how important armor was on the battlefield, each discovery of this nature helps researchers put together a more thorough timeline of how armor-making evolved over the years. This new discovery reveals another key component in this fascinating timeline.
After learning about this ancient set of armor, learn about 44 of history’s most stunning pieces of armor and the stories behind them. Then, learn about the stunningly intact mummy of Xin Zhui, a.k.a. Lady Dai.
