A Southern Song Dynasty (1127-1279) tomb of an aristocrat has been discovered near the Dong­qian Lake burial complex in Ningbo, East China's Zhejiang Province, according to the China News Service. The tomb, identified during the fourth national cultural heritage census, is well-preserved and features an elaborate design with numerous stone carvings imitating wooden structures, showcasing exquisite craftsmanship.

The tomb is of considerable scale, with a meticulously carved lattice door adorned with scroll-pattern decorations, reflecting a strong sense of realism and everyday life. Built along a steep slope, it consists of six stepped terraces, each approximately two meters high and five meters wide. The outer edges of these platforms are constructed from stacked stones, with a central staircase that has suffered damage over time.

Wang Xingcheng, a veteran researcher from the School of Archaeology at Jilin University, told the Global Times on Tuesday that this aristocratic tomb and its stone carvings provide significant empirical evidence for studying social life during the Song and Yuan dynasties (960-1368). With its relatively intact structure, the tomb's architectural layout, stone carving style and building components offer valuable references for exploring the architectural aesthetics, artistic trends and burial customs of the period. 

Unlike many previously discovered Song Dynasty tombs in the area, which are often incomplete, this tomb has remained largely intact. Measuring approximately 12 meters in width, its austere yet elegant design provides valuable reference material for the future restoration efforts of local Song Dynasty tombs.

Scattered around the tomb are various stone carvings mimicking wooden structures, including brackets, corner beams and upturned eaves, some of which remain buried beneath wild grass. The visible elements hint at the tomb's impressive scale.

According to the Ningbo Daily, the tomb was found in the mountains near Daci Temple at the foot of Fuquan Mountain, but due to insufficient evidence, the identity of the tomb's occupant remains unconfirmed.

However, a member of the local cultural heritage census team said that the tomb of Shi ­Miyuan, a Southern Song Dynasty chancellor, is located north of Daci Temple and has been designated as a nationally protected cultural heritage site.

Historical records indicate that Shi's mother was also buried nearby, though her tomb has ­never been found. Given the intricacy of the tomb's stone carvings, experts said it is undoubtedly the resting place of a Southern Song aristocrat. While they do not rule out the possibility that this could be the tomb of Zhou Hui, Shi Miyuan's mother, though there is a lack of evidence to prove the assumption.

Zheng Jiali, once a researcher at the Zhejiang Provincial Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology, noted that Song Dynasty tombs often featured jiaoque, or corner tower, and the recent discovery provides further evidence supporting this trend. Similar remains have been found at Dongqian Lake tombs. Additionally, several cave-like structures have been identified at the site, though the interior of the tomb remains unexplored.

The local census team emphasized that the well-known stone carvings around Dongqian Lake are typically associated with the guardian statues placed in front of aristocratic Song Dynasty tombs. However, these statues are merely part of a larger tomb complex.

Since launching the fourth cultural heritage census, authorities have prioritized investigations in the Dongqian Lake area. Taking advantage of the winter season, when vegetation is sparse, the team has carried out targeted surveys of Song Dynasty tomb sites that had been neglected after the relocation of their guardian statues.

So far, multiple tombs have been identified, and ongoing efforts aim to reintegrate these aristocratic burial sites into the official cultural heritage register.