Hunan Museum

The Hunan Provincial Museum in Changsha was first opened in 1956. The collections of Hunan province include important examples of Shang and Zhou bronzes dating back 3,500 years and a selection of 2,000 year-old fabrics; as well as comprehensive coverage of the Hunanese kilns with examples of some of the earliest ceramics to be found in China. Between 1972 and 1974 the excavation of the Mawangdui Han tombs of the Western Han Dai family added a truly stunning and unique collection of 2,000 year-old relics, including the well-preserved corpse of a female member of the Dai family. A new exhibition hall was added in 1973 to display this trove to full effect. AUTHOR: Chen Jianming is Director of the Hunan Museum. SELLING POINTS: ?The Mawangdui Han tombs represent one of the four most significant archaeological finds of the last century in China; the book also includes 3,500-year-old bronzes from the heartland of ancient China ILLUSTRATIONS 300 colour photos