Rare Qin Dynasty Stone Carvings Found at Record Altitude on Qinghai-Tibet Plateau
QINGHAI, CHINA – Archaeologists have discovered stone carvings dating back to the Qin Dynasty (221-206 BCE) at an unprecedented altitude on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, marking the highest-altitude evidence yet of Qin Dynasty activity. The find suggests the cultural influence of the Central Plains extended deep into western China during the reign of Qin Shihuang.
The carvings were discovered in Kunlun, Qinghai Province. According to a report by China’s State Administration of Cultural Heritage, the stone is quartz sandstone, chosen for its durability and resistance to weathering.
“After laboratory analysis, the lithology of the carved stone is quartz sandstone, with high wear resistance and strong weather resistance,” stated Deng chao, director of the Cultural Relics and Historic Department of the State administration of Cultural Heritage.
Li Li,deputy director of the Chinese Institute of Cultural Heritage,noted the site’s favorable conditions for preservation. ”The carved stone faces the southeast, backed by mountains and water, and is affected by wind erosion and high-temperature radiation of light, which is relatively weak, which is conducive to long-term preservation.” Analysis also ruled out the use of modern tools in the carvings’ creation, finding minimal elemental composition differences between carved and uncarved areas and detecting no traces of tungsten or cobalt.
The discovery is linked to historical accounts of Qin Shihuang dispatching expeditions to seek elixirs of immortality in the region. The State Administration of cultural Relics has designated the carvings as county-level cultural relics protection units, with plans to elevate them to national key cultural relics protection status. Regional archaeological surveys are planned to identify additional cultural relics in the area. (Editor: Lu Jiarong/Chen Kaiyu) 1140916