SHIJIAZHUANG, July 9 (Xinhuanet) -- A total of 249 ancient tombs together with more than 500 antiques, dating back to 2,000 years ago, have been recently excavated under a middle school construction site in Handan, north China's Hebei Province, according to a local official.

    Hao Liangzhen, vice director of the Handan cultural heritage bureau, said Friday most of the unearthed tombs were from the Han Dynasty (206 B.C.-220 A.D.), while others were from the Warring States Period (475-221 B.C.) and the Jin Dynasty (265 - 420).

    The tombs were buried only about one meter under the ground level.

    The antiques in the tombs include pottery, copperware, ironware, carnelian, colored glaze, and utensils made of bones. Enditem