Graveyard of kings and nobles of State of Dian, Han Dynasty (206BC-220AD)

Location: Jinning County, Yunnan Province

Period: 3rd century BC-1st century AD

Excavated from 1955 to 1996

Gold seal with serpent knob: (up, side length 2.4 cm, height 2 cm); Bronze house and people: model of building (bottom, width 12.5 cm, height 11.5 cm); Bronze vessel for storing shells in the shape of overlapping drums: sacrifice set (behind, height 65.8 cm)

Significance: It has demonstrated the history and culture of the State of Dian during the period of the Han Dynasty.

 Introduction

Graveyards of the Dian people at Shizhaishan are tombs of kings and nobles of Dian State in the Han Dynasty. After four large-scale excavations, more than 50 tombs were unearthed and are now under protection. Most of the tombs were built in the clearance between rocks and with no regular forms. Among more than 40,000 pieces of unearthed relics like bronze ware, gold and silver ware, jade, ironware and pottery, Bronze Drum and Jade Seal of Dian King are the most precious and of great value.