A painted frame of a se with circular carved phoenix head and painted vertical scale patterns on part of the body is excavated in Guojiamiao cemetery. [Photo/kaogu.cn]

Ancient music and dance relics discovered in Hubei

Archeological workers started excavating Guojiamiao cemetery in Zaoqiang county of Hubei province since November in 2014. In late January of 2015, they announced their latest finds of more than 1000 artifacts made of bronze, pottery, lacquered wood, bone, leather, jade and other materials.

Among them, several traditional musical instruments were found in early January which were considered to be the oldest of their kinds. These artifacts were unearthed in good condition at the tomb group, which covers an area of 1.2 million square meters.