DNA tests on possible relatives may help verify grave of Cao Cao

A group of scientists from Fudan University in Shanghai have come up with a bizarre idea to verify the authenticity of a controversial ancient tomb: test the DNA of the tomb owner's potential modern offspring.

Anthropologists from Fudan's School of Life Sciences were widely questioned by the public yesterday after they suggested that men surnamed either Cao or Xiahou across the country submit DNA samples to verify whether a newly discovered tomb belongs to China's legendary ruler Cao Cao .

A war of words among Chinese historians and archaeologists has broken out since officials in Henan claimed the grave of Cao Cao had been discovered last month in Anyang county. Several top anthropologists said they suspected the province had made the claim for the sake of economic benefits, especially tourism.

Cao Cao was a warlord during the Three Kingdoms period in the late second century. He has been criticised as a tyrant but also praised as a military genius and poet.

Fudan associate professor Li Hui, who thought of the DNA test idea, said it would enable scientists to determine the authenticity of the tomb. He said people surnamed Cao or Xiahou were very probably the offspring of Cao Cao.

He had contacted authorities about collecting samples from the one male and two female bodies inside the tomb to submit them for DNA testing.