Chinese police arrest three suspected raiders of Song dynasty tomb

Three elderly Chinese farmers were allegedly caught by police while digging for artefacts at an ancient tomb in a remote forest, mainland media reports.

However, other tomb raiders had already disturbed the Song dynasty (AD960-1279) site in Zhejiang province and what the suspects found was said to be worthless, the news portal Zjol.com.cn reported.

The trio were allegedly led by a farmer in his 60s from Fuyang city, who recruited his two friends to help him hunt for treasure after hearing that the gravestone of the tomb had been found in nearby Tonglu county.

They reportedly took shovels and hoes to the site and spent about half a day digging a one metre-deep hole at the tomb at the start of August before uncovering two pieces of pottery, Zjol.com.cn said.

However, they were arrested when they were spotted by farmers, who called the police.

The site lies two km from Lingyuan village, which in ancient times had been a prosperous community where residents were employed making umbrellas.