Ancient tomb paintings found in Inner Mongolia

HOHHOT - Archeologists have discovered three ancient tombs with fantastic interior wall paintings, dating back about 1,000 years, in Northern China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, local authorities said Thursday.

The colorful paintings were found in tombs in Jungar Banner in Ordos and are well preserved, featuring deer, mythical beasts, flowers and plants, said Yang Zemeng, head of the Cultural Relics and Archaeology Institute of Ordos.

Painted red, white and reddish brown, the paintings show mysterious images in a plain style, Yang said, adding that paintings are rarely found in tombs from the same period in other places.

The tombs' location is about two kilometers away from the ruins of a Song Dynasty (960-1279) city.

Judging from the structure and patterns of the tombs, archeologists have initially drawn the conclusion that the paintings date back to the early and middle period of the Northern Song Dynasty (960-1127), according to Yang.

The findings will serve as research material on the local history, culture, art and funeral customs of the Song Dynasty, Yang said.