Pottery figures were unearthed at an outer burial pit of the Jiangcun village tomb in Xi’an, Northwest China’s Shaanxi province. On Tuesday, China’s National Cultural Heritage Administration announced that the tomb is the mausoleum of Emperor Wen of the Western Han Dynasty (202 B.C.-A.D. 25). Photo: VCG

The tomb, located west of Bailuyuan in Xi’an, is surrounded by over 110 outer burial pits with four ramps leading to the entrance of the underground chamber. Photo: VCG

A horse skeleton was excavated in the K32 burial of the tomb. Experts started this round of archaeological work in 2017 and unearthed over 4,000 relics. Photo: IC Photo

An overview of burial K38 of the tomb. Photo: Courtesy of Shaanxi Academy of Archaeology

Archaeologists also excavated the South Tomb of Empress Dowager Bo, which is located around 2,000 meters southwest of the Jiangcun village tomb. Golden relics were unearthed from it. Photo: IC Photo

Clay pot unearthed at K1 burial of the South Tomb of Empress Dowager Bo. Photo: Courtesy of Society for Shaanxi Provincial Archaeology

China has conducted several archaeological studies related to the mausoleum of Emperor Wen since 1966. Photo: IC Photo

From 2006 to 2009, Xi’an conducted rescue works and trail excavations in the area, resulting in the discovery of the Jiangcun tomb. Photo: IC Photo

Stamps unearthed from the K27 burial of the tomb served as proof for the archaeologists to confirm Emperor Wen’s mausoleum, as letters on them indicate the owner was a loyal member of the Han Dynasty. Photo: Courtesy of Shaanxi Academy of Archaeology

Archaeologists explored a rammed earth wall, which enclosed the tomb and its neighboring Queen Dou Mausoleum. The finding became another piece of evidence for archaeologists to confirm the real mausoleum of Emperor Wen. Photo: VCG

The Queen Dou Mausoleum, measuring 23 meters high with bucket-shaped sealing soil, is located 800 meters northeast of the Jiangcun tomb. Photo: Courtesy of Shaanxi Academy of Archaeology

Ancient stone tablets that were discovered in Fenghuangzui, which is located around 2,100 meters north of the Jiangcun village tomb. The place has been considered as the location of Emperor Wen’s mausoleum for years. Photo: Courtesy of Shaanxi Academy of Archaeology

An overview of the excavation area in Xi’an. Photo: Courtesy of CCTV