The incredible return of artifacts from past dynasties in a remote part of China has highlighted the widespread problem of illegal excavation and trade in cultural relics.
The recent arrest of seven suspects by local authorities in the northwest of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Prefecture led to the confiscation of an incredible collection of ancient coins weighing over 300 kilograms. In collaboration with the Center for the Conservation of Cultural Heritage and other organizations, it was possible to detect that the detainees were engaged in illegal activities, which included digging up ancient cultural sites, desecration of sacred tombs, and subsequent trade in these historical artifacts. works, writes Global Times.
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In the preliminary stages of the investigation, law enforcement found that two people had forcibly entered the territory of Mount Helan’s famous natural resource reserve. The attackers unearthed a substantial pile of ancient coins from the Song Dynasty (960-1279), which, according to experts, was worth more than 500,000 yuan.
Unfortunately, this case in 2023 is not the only case in Ningxia. The area has been the victim of similar events before, a notable example is the illegal excavation of the monument in 2014 and 2015. Considered the only known Xi Xia (1038-1227) find in the area, the site was damaged three times, resulting in the loss of about 109,016 ancient coins in the hands of audacious robbers.
Filled with the weight of a mysterious historical culture, half a kilo of these ancient coins was sold for as little as 110 yuan, and their true value was greatly underestimated.
Previously Focus wrote about the oldest known crown. Found in the Dead Sea desert.
We also talked about the luxury of the city of Amazons. A unique mosaic of Hellenism was found in ancient Sinop.
Source: Focus
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