ON SOME GEOLOGICAL PROBLEMS CONNECTED WITH THE PRESERVATION OF MAWANGDUI TOMB NO. 1 OF HAN DYNASTY IN CHANGSHA
Ang J · 1976
The excavation in Changsha of Mawangdui Tomb no. 1 of Han Dynasty is significant in Chinese archaeology. The 2100-year-old female corpse and its numerous burial accessories have been so well preserved that they are regarded as one of the world's wonders. The cause of the excellent preservation of this tomb attracts therefore, wide interest, but this paper is merely a preliminary study on the geological background and related geological processes leading to such preservation. In addition to many conditions for the well-preserved state of the tomb, the geological setting of the tomb and measures applied to insure permeation resistance, air-sealing, deep burial and so on, especially the white gypsum tomb-cabinet, play an important part in the excellent preservation of the tomb.