Chinese man arrested on suspicion of planning to sell ancient artefacts he found in tomb buried in backyard

A man in northwestern China has been arrested on suspicion of illegally planning to sell ancient artefacts he dug up from a tomb found buried in his backyard, local media reports.

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The man, identified only by his surname of Gao, found the ancient tomb below ground behind his home in Tongchuan, in Shaanxi province on March 12 , the Shaanxi-based Chinese Business View reported on Friday.

The tomb was discovered by workmen that Gao had employed to dig a well for him next to his property.

Gao and his niece, who was also at the property, dug out 13 artefacts from the tomb – 12 pieces of pottery and a sword.

He then informed his son-in-law, named in the report only as Hao, of Lushan county in Henan province, about his discovery.

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Hao arrived at Gao’s house very early the next day and reportedly took the artefacts back to Henan with the intention of selling them.