Shanpula Tombs, Ancient burial complex in Lop County, Xinjiang, China
Shanpula Tombs is an archaeological site containing multiple burial chambers spread across a large area in Lop County, Xinjiang. The complex holds numerous graves of varying sizes and construction methods arranged throughout the grounds.
The tombs originate from different dynasties, spanning over 2000 years of settlement and burial practices in the area. The site was continuously used for burials and evolved according to the cultural and political changes of the region.
The burial ground shows how funeral customs changed over time in this region and what objects people were buried with. Visitors can see directly how tomb design and contents varied across different periods.
Access to this archaeological site requires advance arrangements and local permission, so visitors should plan accordingly before arriving. Visiting with a guide or research team is recommended to properly understand and explore the location.
The site contains approximately 150 individual tombs, each distinguished by its artifacts and reflecting different trade and population movements. The diversity of objects found reveals how connected and international this region was in ancient times.
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