|
CHINA> Regional
![]() |
|
100 ancient tombs robbed
By Tang Zhihao (China Daily)
Updated: 2009-08-29 09:11 SHANGHAI: Local authorities are fighting a centuries-old business - tomb robbing, which recently has been brought back to life around Nanjing, the ancient capital city of six dynasties in China.
Police and cultural relics protection department staffers are trying to catch the tomb raiders, who dream of becoming rich overnight. About 100 ancient tombs within an area of 20 hectares in Lishui county of Nanjing were illegally excavated recently, the Nanjing-based Yangtze Evening Post reported. "Such sites are mostly located in mountainous regions where police forces are short-handed. Local police have a difficult time providing effective protection," Cao Zhijun, director of culture heritage protection department of Nanjing Cultural Heritage Administration Bureau, told China Daily on Friday. The exact number of affected tombs is still under investigation, Cao said. "We have sent staffs to the affected site to check how serious the problem is. The losses cannot be predicted at this stage," added Cao. The grave site was also robbed in early 2008. Several robbers were arrested at that time, and the robbers are believed to come from the surrounding area of Lishui.
"The value of a piece of pottery in the black market is no more than 1,000 yuan ($147)," said Cao. The crypt is not very large so the tombs must be for ordinary people. Therefore, the will not contain particularly valuable objects, Cao said. Four robbers have been arrested and one is on the run, the Yangtze Evening Post reported. A local police official surnamed Tang refused to comment on this information but stated it is partially correct. He also said that grave robbing is not serious problem in Lishui county. Strict laws have been imposed by the Chinese government to stop grave robbing. However, the lure of making an overnight fortune has led some robbers to risk the danger, especially in this rural area where the police force is short-handed. Some precious cultural relics have been sold overseas through the black market, resulting in the loss of historical finds. "We do need a long-term effective management system to keep our cultural relics protected, " said Cao. |
|||||
商洛市| 蒙阴县| 巴塘县| 萨迦县| 陆川县| 新昌县| 秀山| 龙陵县| 宜昌市| 绥棱县| 娱乐| 汕尾市| 繁峙县| 小金县| 林口县| 盐亭县| 呼伦贝尔市| 城步| 孟州市| 山东| 威海市| 昂仁县| 通榆县| 绵阳市| 乌鲁木齐市| 鄄城县| 黔西县| 交城县| 寿光市| 罗甸县| 阿勒泰市| 五指山市| 石林| 黑河市| 云浮市| 独山县| 永和县| 桐城市| 汉寿县| 大英县| 三穗县|