Tomb reveals secrets of ancient lives
The Museum of History is scheduled to open in summer once permanent exhibits are complete, but for a preview of what will be on offer, visit the Han Dynasty tomb at Shamshuipo - an archaeological site that shows just how old 'Old Hong Kong' really is.
In August 1955, workers levelling a slope at the northern end of Shamshuipo near Tonkin Street to make way for the Lei Cheng Uk Resettlement Estate uncovered an almost-intact tomb.
Soon after their discovery was reported, University of Hong Kong professor F S Drake began excavations and researchers confirmed the tomb was built during the Han Dynasty (25-220 AD). The Government preserved the Lei Cheng Uk Han Tomb on its original site and built a small gallery nearby for the display of artefacts. The Lei Cheng Uk Han Tomb Museum opened in 1957, and attracts an average of 66,000 visitors every year.
'The discovery was a milestone in the study of the early history of Hong Kong,' according to Hong Kong Museum of History assistant curator Mabel Lee Mei-wah.
'This tomb shows Hong Kong was under Chinese administration as long as 2,000 years ago.'
The basic structure of the tomb and its artefacts bear a significant resemblance to Han tombs unearthed in central and southern China, indicating early settlers in Hong Kong were very likely migrants from these areas of the mainland.
The inscriptions and patterns on the bricks, as well as the calligraphy of the inscriptions show a strong touch of eastern Han style, and pottery found in the tomb is similar to popular vessels used by people of the Han period.
The evidence indicates Hong Kong's early settlers retained many customs and practices of their place of origin.
The inscription Panyu on the bricks is strong evidence the tomb was built during the Han Dynasty. According to historical records, the word refers to the name of the county to which Hong Kong belonged during the Han Dynasty.
Some of the bricks read Panyu Dazhili , which means 'bringing peace to Panyu County', and the calligraphy of the inscriptions was official script generally used in inscriptions on bronzes and stones during that period.
During the latter Tang Dynasty the part of the New Territories which is today's Tuen Mun was actually a garrison town and a prosperous salt trading market. Hong Kong was later put under Po An county of Guangdong Province until it was leased to Britain in 1842. A total of 58 pottery and bronze objects was found in the tomb, of which 43 were used in food preparation, including a tripod, bowls, pots and cooking vessels.
In recent years more pottery of the Han period was discovered at sites in Ma Wan, Lantau, and Sai Kung, many of which are cooking, table and storage vessels.
Several wine containers were among the items unearthed, plus two clay models of wells.
'A set of funerary objects, including a well model, a house model, a granary model and a stove model were among the objects found in the Lei Cheng Uk Han tomb,' according to Ms Lee.
This combination of funerary objects was commonly found in tombs dating from the eastern Han Dynasty.
Graphic: oldhkglo
