Dear Colleague,
Although I have no material for "Sardegna', I still felt
important to exchange our preliminary reports of our archaeology program.
This summer we will continue our work in Xi'an. If any of your student
would be interested in joining us, please let me know.
With best regards,
Alfonz ( Lengyel)
FUDAN MUSEUM FOUNDATION
Sino-American Field School of Archaeology (SAFSA)
4206 - 73rd Terrace East, Sarasota, Fl 34243
T.& F: 941-351-34243--- E-mail: [log in to unmask]
REPORT OF 1998 SUMMER CAMPAIGN OF SAFSA
In 1990, the Fudan Museum Foundation in collaboration with Xi'an Jiaotong
University,
and the Archaeological Research institute of Shaanxi Province,
established the Sino-American
Field School of Archaeology. The Education Commission of accredited the
school
Shaanxi Province, China, and the Society of Professional Archaeologists,
(USA).
Originally our program is an archaeological practicum, and not a
spectacular campaign. In China, except some monumental excavations, the
concentration is on salvage archaeology, which suits well our field
school. This summer we helped to unearth great many terra cotta soldiers
related to the tomb of Han Emperor Jing Di (Liu Qi, died 141 BC). The
site is situated in the Xianyang Yuan (plateau). near to the airport of
Xi'an from which port a highway was built through the mausoleum area. All
participating American students from several American universities, had
previous excavation experiences, some in the United States (Arizona)
others in Israel (Caesarea Maritima) or Tunisia (Carthage).
On the same plateau nine of the eleven Han Emperors were buried. From the
extreme East
of Yang Ling mausoleum to the west the following Emperors were buried:
=====================================================================
Name of the Emperor Reigned Buried in Mausoleum of
=====================================================================-
1. Jing Di /Liu Qi/ r.157-141 B.C. Yang Ling
2. Gao Zu /Liu Bang/ r.206-195 B.C. Chang Ling
3. Hui Di /Liu Ying/ r.195-188 B.C. An Ling
4. Ai Di /Liu Xin/ r.007- 001 B.C. Yi Ling
5. Yuan Di /Liu Shi/ r.048- 033 B.C Wei Ling
6. Ping Di /Liu Kan/ r. 1 B.C-A.D.5 Kang Ling
7. Cheng Di /Liu Ao/ r.033- 007 B.C. Yan Ling
8. Zhao Di /Liu Fuling/ r.084- 074 B.C. Ping Ling
9. Wu Di /Liu Che/ r.141- 087 B.C. Mao Ling
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------
The tomb-complex, called the Yang Ling Mausoleum of the Han Dynasty, was
placed in a garden settings, which included the Tombs of the Emperor Jing
Di , the Empress Wang who died in 126 B.C., and the first Concubine (Su
Ji), the living quarter of the spirit of the Emperor, the burials of the
attendants, officials, living quarter of the spirit of the Emperor, the
different pits containing miniature granary, figurines of soldiers,
caretaker civilians, horse drawn chariots as well as domesticated
miniature animals and the executed criminals, and later the relatives of
Emperor and important people related to Emperor Jing Di. The area covers
96.000 square meters.
-2-
Large scale excavation started only in 1990. Great number of artifacts
were so far disco-
discovered and determined the extend of the Yang Ling site and gave
convincing documentary
evidences to archaeological support to the data which was given by Ban Gu
(A.D. 32-92) in his
History of Han Dynasty (Han Shu).
It is so far determined the dimensions and heights of the tumulus-tomb
proper of Emperor Jing Di and his Empress. The Diling (The Emperor’s
burial) and the Houling (the Empress= burial) were set apart for 450
meters on SW-NE axle. During Han Dynasty it became customary that the
Emperor and the Empress buried in the same mausoleum but not under the
same tumulus. For carry out this custom the whole complex of burials,
known as Yang Ling Mausoleum was composed by as a unit by two main
tumuli. Within this burial complex the tumulus of the Emperor and empress
had its separate walled burial garden.
The burials of the Emperor and Empress were square-pyramidal tumuli. The
base of the Emperor=s one was made for 170 meter and the top is 50 meter
on each side. The tumulus was placed in a garden and enclosed by a wall
of 410 long on each side. The distance between the base of the tumulus
and the four walls was 120 meter.
The Empress’ tumulus was a bit of smaller. The base of it was made of 160
and the top of it 45 meter on each side. The length of each side of the
wall enclosure was 320 meter. The height of the Emperor’s tumulus was 31
and that of the Empress 25.2 meter. On the center of each side of the
wall was spaced a gate which was flaked outside by two watchtowers.
Perhaps it should mention that the western understanding of Mausoleum is
not the same as it it used by Chinese sources. In the western culture the
term Mausoleum derived from the
building which erected in Asia Minor in 4th century .B.C. as a funerary
monument for the grave of King Mausolos and Queen Artemissia of
Halicarnassus. This term later became a generic term for other large,
above earth built, funerary architectures. However, in China, the term
Mausoleum had been used not for a single large burial monument, but for a
well designed burial complex such as the Yang Ling one. In the west the
mausoleum originally was designed for the King and Queen, or a regional
civilian or military leader and his wife. In the case of the Chinese
understanding of the architectural term of mausoleum not that rigid. It
compass the burials of high officials, the first concubine, and some
later deceased relatives and important people whose life was attached to
Emperor Jing Di. Moreover, to serve the Emperor in his afterlife, the
burial of c. 10,000 criminals also included who were executed after Yang
Ling Mausoleum was completed.
According to Eastern Han literary sources the custom of building living
quarters for the soul of the Emperor had been started with the mausoleum
complex of Qin Shi Huang. It was build as a large underground hall with
all necessities, including measuring and weighing instruments, which the
Emperor would need if he is still living. These are nowadays extremely
important documentation to reconstruct the material and spiritual
civilization of the time of Jing Di.
-3-
The area in which we worked and unearthed terra cotta soldiers was a
partly already
excavated a c. 50 meter long and 7 meter deep pit, filled with terra
cotta soldiers in military formation to defend the Mausoleum complex of
Yang Ling. Following the advise of Confucius (551 B.C- 479 B.C) Already
Qin Shi Huang ( reigned c.221-207 B.C.) Decided to place around his
burial underground palace complex several thousands of life size terra
cotta soldiers. However, in this several hundred meter long narrow
corridor the painted terra cotta soldiers were only 1/3rd of that of Qin
Shi Huang's. The Government of recently independent Slovenia offered help
to properly dig out these soldiers and above the long ditch which is
crossing the present super highway from the Airport to the City of Xi'an.
The Slovenes in our section of the long ditch built a roof with skylight.
Under this roof, in the same constant humidity, protected from the heat
rays of the sun, the tidies works of unearthing these terra cotta
soldiers were made.
Originally these naked painted (average 62 cm high) terra cotta figures
were dressed, and
their wooden arms were pegged to their shoulders. The dresses and the
wooden attached arms
were powdered and diffused into the earth. Some remnant of the dress
material or from the
headbands are visible stains as partly defused in to the terra cotta.
Some of the soldier’s legs under the knee, show the use of cinnabar
colored puttee (Xing teng), a spirally wrapped cloth strip dyed with
mercuric sulfide.
The face, body and legs of the soldiers painted in different shades of
yellowish, reddish
body color. The hair, eyebrows, pupil, and beard (if any) of the soldiers
are painted black. The hair arranged in different styles, which gives a
documentation of sophisticated mail hairstyles during the economically
prosperous time of the Han period.
The faces were individualized portraits. It was made by excellent sense
of proportion and quite realistic facial expressions. These Terra Cotta
soldiers and that of the tomb of Qin Shi Huang are the proofs of the high
level Chinese portrait tradition which existed long before the
importation of realistic Buddhist sculptures from India.
Anthropologically recognizable different facial types were sculpted on
these small terra cotta figures. With it the artists well demonstrated
the dissimilar racial subjects, from different geographical area under
the rule of the Han Dynasty.
The weapons we unearthed were made as exact miniaturized replica of which
used in the battlefield for attack such as the crossbow, iron halberds,
spears and swords. For defensive purpose use the shields which were
discovered in the collapsed pit of the soldiers. The tiny copper
three-edged arrow heads, were a perfect imitation of the large one, which
were used already in the previous Dynasty.
Near to the bodies of the soldiers, miniaturized Han coins with square
hole in the center with readable inscription of Ban liang ( half liang)
were found.
-4-
In addition to field archaeological methodology, the participants studied
the site conservation and preliminary restoration, in the laboratory,
which was given by the Germans for the Shaanxi Province , and the
Italians to the Shaanxi Province Historical Museum. We tryed to persuade
the US Governments to donate an earth resistivity station to the
Archaeological Research Institute in Xi'an in order to be able to
accelerate to detect the possible archaeological remains underneath. The
White House refused our request and President Clinton arrived with empty
handed in Xi'an during his recent visit in China.
The basic principle of the school is not only the summer archaeological
practicum, but also a
good will gesture toward the Chinese people. Through archaeological field
work, we want to
build up a mutual respect and pave the road of further peaceful and
prosperous collaboration.
Dr. Alfonz Lengyel
Professor and American Director of SAFSA
4206 - 73rd Terrace East
Sarasota, FL 34243
TEL./FAX: 941-351-8208
E-Mail: [log in to unmask]
==========================
SINO-AMERICAN FIELD SCHOOL OF ARCHAEOLOGY
SUMMER PROGRAM in XI’AN, (Shaanxi),CHINA
"SAFSA 2000"
The Sino-American Field School of Archaeology resumed its annual Summer
program and Excavation Practicum in Xi’an, China. Last summer, due to the
accidental bombing of the Chinese Embassy by US Air Force in Belgrade
(Yugoslavia), our summer program was suspended. Our accredited program
was co-sponsored by the Archaeological Institute of Shaanxi Province and
Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an Shaanxi. Six transferable credit for
those American students who took examination was given by Xi’an Jiaotong
University. Guest lecturers, analogy studies in Museums and sites,
complemented the program.
We helped to the Institute to unearth the so-called HUI-LING MAUSOLEUM,
which is the resting-place of the elder brother of Emperor Xuan Zhong (Li
Longji, r.712-756), one of the grandsons of the only female Emperor Wu
Ze-tian. Important wall-paintings both sides of the entrance corridor,
terra cotta figures, and stone outer coffin with low relief were
discovered, as well as the gate and the walls of the walls around the
burial mound.
HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
After the fall of the Sui Dynasty (589-618) General Li Yuan posthumously
called Emperor Gao Zu (r. 618-626) established the Tang Dynasty
(618-907). The Li family of the Tang Emperors were descent of the ancient
philosopher Lao Zi and the famous Han General Li Guang-li but
intermarried with the Xianbei Tribal aristocracy.(Roberts,p.51).
Therefore, the family was considered as half- Chinese by Han standard.
(Hucker, p. 140.)
In 626 Gao Zu abdicated in favor of his younger son Li Shimin (Emperor
Tai Zong, r.626-649). He was an able military and statesman. He drew from
the Tarim Bazin the Western Turks with the help of the Uygurs. The
recently unified Tibet became under the Chinese influence. At the request
of Songzan Gambo, the Tibetian monarch , Emperor Tai Zhong sent Princess
Wen Cheng to Marry him. Emperor Zhong Zong, the Tibetan King Chide Zugdan
married another Tang princess Jin Cheng. (Bai.p.214) Through this
"marriage diplomacy" the Chinese culture expanded to Tibet, and Via Tibet
influence the Hindu culture of Nepal and India. (Meyer, p.195.)
After Tai-Zhong death, his son Li Zhi (Emperor Gao Zong, r. 649-683)
succeeded him. He felt in love with his father’s former concubine, Wu
Zhao , who soon killed the Emperor’s wife and took her place, as Empress
Wu Ze-tian. During the reign of the Emperor she already meddled into the
state affairs. After the death of the Emperor Gao Zong first for a while
declared her third son Li Xian, (Emperor Zhong Zong, r.684), then forced
him to abdicate for the favor of Li Dan (Emperor Rui Zong, r.684-690).
After the revolt of Li Jingye (684) Wu Ze-tian took the lead and in 690,
encouraged by the Buddhist Clergy, she usurped the throne and declared
herself as Emperor Sheng Shen of the Zhou Dynasty (r.690-705). She was
hailed as the incarnated Maitreya Buddha. (Roberts, p.59).
-2-
Due to serious of scandals, intrigues and murderous actions Wu Zetian,
the only legiti-
mate woman Emperor of China abdicated in her age of 82, and soon died.
After a short turmoil followed the death of Wu Ze-tian and the short
lived two successors one of the grandson of Wu Ze-tian Li Longji (Emp.
Xuan Zong r.712-756) restored the "Tang Power" and took the throne.
Ar the beginning under Emperor Xuan Zong China became prosperous, he
carried out political reform and promoted, through vigorous examination,
competent people. His downfall was that in his older age fell in love
with Yang Yuhuan (Yang Guifei) the concubine of his 18th son, and let the
affairs of the government in the hands of Prime Minister Li Linfu
(Roberts.p.69). At the same time the Eunuch Gao Lishi became also
powerful person at the court. After the death of Li Linfu a relative of
Lady Yang, Yang Gouzhong became the Prime Minister. He strongly upported
both Li Linfu and An Lushan, the favorite adopted son of Yang Guifei. An
Lushan was a half Sogdian and half Turkish, an ambitious military
officer, who in 755 rebelled against the Emperor.
During the course of the Civil War the Emperor, Lady Yang and the Prime
Minister Yang Gouzhong fled to Sechuan. At the time when the royal party
reached Maweiyi (west of present Xingping County, Shaanxi Province) the
Military commander asked the Emperor to execute the Prime Minister, and
Lady Yang. After the Prime minister was beheaded and Yang Guifei hanged,
the Royal party continued their journey (Bai, pp.222-223). The Emperor,
who even sacrificed Lady Yang, his beloved concubine, was not able to
maintain his power and abdicated. A famous poem of Bai Juyi (772-846) the
"Song of Unending Sorrow" commemorated the sadness of the Emperor who
selfishly ordered to execute Lady Yang, the true love of his life.
EXCAVATION
In this historical setting lived and died the older brother of Xuan
Zhong, the Crowned Prince Li Xian. During the summer campaign of 2000 his
TUMULUS Type of Royal "Mausoleum", near Xi’an in Pucheng County (Shaanxi
Province), under the Chinese Field Director, Professor Ma Zhi-jun was
unearthed. The American director of SAFSA’s excavation practicum, was
Professor Alfonz Lengyel.(1)
The mausoleum followed the traditional pattern of the Tang Royal tomb
setting, which actually followed the Tumulus type of "Mausoleums" of that
of the Han Dynasty. The opening was in the South side of the tumulus.
From there, a gradually downward sloping corridor led us to the large
burial chamber topped with a corbeled domical cealing. There was placed a
huge stone outer coffin with reach low relief decoration derived from
Buddhist iconography.
The tumulus was, by following the four cardinal point, enclosed with
dirt-walls, which were built about 70 meters of distance from each sides
of the Tumulus. There was only one entrance in the south side of the
wall. Each turning point of the walls a wooden watchtower were placed
with ceramic roofs. At the meeting point of North and East wall some
remnants of the
roofs were discovered with a well-preserved end-tile. It was decorated
with a well- known Buddhist lotus-flower design.(Rhie, p.5). In all four
sides the dirt wall, during the past c.1300 years, collapsed. About 25
meters from the unearthed area of the watchtower on the expected
-3-
east wall a c.5 meter section the lower part of the dirt-wall with the
imprint of the stakes was discovered. It became evident that, as until
our time, the dirt-wall made with the aid of vertical stakes placed in an
appropriate distance from each other. Within these stakes formed with the
beaten earth technique the wall. After cleaning the portion of the tower
and the wall a photographs and the necessary stratigraphy were made, then
recovered the exposed area.
Both sides of the corridor which led toward the burial chamber frescoes
were painted on the wall and the side niches great number of female
painted terra cotta statuettes were placed. Under the supervision of Ms.
Jiang Jun, director of the Field Laboratory and her two assistants, our
students carefully scraped off the dirt from these statuettes and
prepared them for preliminary conservation.
The frescoes on the corridor’s wall are in a very fragile shape. Without
immediate removal from the wall and proper conservation, certainly it
would fall off soon from the wall. It would need immediate care. The
frescoes should be removed from the wall and conserved professionally.
Dr. Lengyel as a member of ICOM/ICMAH-UNESCO immediately requested help
from the President of ICOM, Jaques Perot, It should be our professional
duty to train the conservators of the Archaeology Institute in Xi’an for
the latest methods of fresco removal and conservation. A French group
soon removed the frescoes and after conservation place into the museum of
the Archaeology Institute of Shaanxi province.
The iconography of the murals followed the "standard" of early pictorial
program as described in the collective publication of " Three Thousand
Years of Chinese Painting" New Heaven-Beijing: Yale University and
Beijing Foreign Language Press, 1997. (Wu Hung, p.75.). Here also the
typical Tang "processions of royal ladies" is presented if they were
still accompanying the deceased. The "plum and full faced " woman images,
as ideal beauties of the time, were similarly stereotypes that of the
women of the colored terra cotta statuettes, which were placed in the
niches, in the both sides of the corridor.
After the total analysis of the site and the finds by appropriate
experts, the Archaeological Institute will publish in a collective
publication, the HUI LING Mausoleum of Pucheng County , Shaanxi
province).
Dr. Alfonz Lengyel
American Director of SAFSA
Endnote:
SAFSA’s participants
Davidson, James C. Student, University of New Mexico
Huggins, Henry, Gregory ,Forensic Technician & Comparion Expert,
Australia
McLean, Randall John, Teacher in Jasper Highs Shool, Dallas, Texas
Olson, Kathleen Torrance, Student New York University
Reisner, Tanja, Student at Beijing Second Language School
Tsekanovskiy, Kirill, Student Depaul University
-4-
Bibliography
- E. Bai Shouyi, An Outline History of China. Beijing: Foreign Language
Press,1892
- Hucker,O.Cgarles, China’s Imperial Past, Stanford: Stanford University
Press, 1975
- Meyer, Milton W., A Concise History of China. Lanham, MD, (US) & London
(UK): Rowan and Littlefield Publisher 1994.
- Rhie, Marylin Martin, Early Buddhist Art of China & Central Asia..
Leiden, Boston, Köln, 1999
- Roberts, J.A,G., A Concise History of China. Cambridge: Harvard
University Press, 1999
- Yang Xin, et all., Three Thousand Year of Chinese painting, The Culture
and Civilization of China. New Haven Beijing,: Yale University Press, and
Beijing, Foreign Language Institute Press. 1997
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