Dedatils of excavating Dingling of Ming Tombs
DingLing is
the only one of the Ming Tombs excavated so far. In early summer of 1956,
the Chinese archaeologists began the excavation of the Underground Palace
of Dingling. It took two years and was finished in 1958.
Mounds
of dirt were indications of where the tomb was located, but there were
few clues showing the entrance to the tomb. By chance, the archaeological
team found some loose bricks on the right side of a wall outside the
Soul Tower. That was their starting point. From there they dug the first
trench.
When they
opened the second tunnel, a small stone was discovered. Inscribed on
it were Chinese characters, meaning, This stone is 160
feet from the sealing wall of the funeral chamber at a depth of 35 feet.
According to this clue, they dug a third tunnel and finally found the
entrance to the palace.
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