Thejoint tombs of boat-shaped coffins (Chinese:成都古蜀船棺合葬墓;pinyin:Chéngdū Gǔ Shǔ chuánguān hézàngmù;lit. 'Chengdu ancient Shu boat coffin joint burial tomb') are tombs of theancient kingdom of Shu discovered inChengdu,Sichuan, China, coinciding with theSpring and Autumn period (770–476 BC) and theWarring States period (476–221 BC).[1][2] and apparently also occurred during theQin dynasty (221–206BC).[3]
In 2013, the Chinese government placed the tombs of boat-shaped coffins, along withSanxingdui andJinsha site, on theUNESCO Tentative List, indicating that China plans to consider the sites for future nomination as a UNESCOWorld Heritage Site.[4][5]
In 2000, a number of boat-shaped coffins were found at a tomb site in centralChengdu. This tomb is believed to be royal from theformer kingdom of Shu coinciding with the Warring States period in China.[1][4] The tomb measure 30.5 × 20.3m and has a depth of 2.5m.[4] The tomb contains a total of 17 coffins and is dated 400BC.[4] The biggest boat-shaped coffin is 18.8m long and 1.5m wide and contains a large number of cultural objects.[4]
In early 2017, nearly 200 tombs with boat-shaped coffins were found in an area as big as twofootball pitches in the village ofShuangyuan in Dawang inQingbaijiang district outside Chengdu.[1][2] Numerous bronze artifacts were uncovered in the tombs.[1]
In 2018, it was announced that tombs with 60 boat-shaped coffins placed in four rows were found in the villagePujiang County in Sichuan.[3] In the tombs more than 300 artefacts of ceramics, bronze, iron, and bamboo were unearthed. Also, weapons, coins, andglass pearls have been excavated. The pearls were likely to be imported through theSilk Road. The discoveries are dated to the Warring States period and theQin dynasty (221–206BC).[3]
A Tentative List is an inventory of those properties which each State Party intends to consider for nomination.