Archaeology
Jade burial suit: 2,000-year-old 'immortality' armor worn by Chinese royalty
Name: Jade burial suit
What it is: A type of ceremonial suit constructed of jade pieces and worn by royal members of China's Han dynasty (ruled from 206 B.C. to A.D. 220), as well as later rulers and elites, when they were buried.
Where it is from: China
When it was made: Approximately 2,000 years ago
Related: Babylonian Map of the World: The oldest known map of the ancient world
What it tells us about the past: Each burial suit was made using thousands of uniquely shaped pieces of jade, which artisans stitched together using gold thread. The masterfully crafted suits were "built as armor" to protect the deceased in the afterlife and to "prevent mortal decay," according to UNESCO. It appears ancient Han royalty also believed the suits protected the soul.
"The ensemble of jades protected the body and the soul in their entirety, enabling the deceased to attain immortality," according to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City.
Which animals are evolving fastest?
NFL Week 3 opening lines, odds and best bet | Pickswise
-
Archaeology21h agoReady for Tomorrow’s Battlefield? Iпtrodυciпg the гeⱱoɩᴜtіoпагу StrykerX.criss
-
Archaeology4d agoThe World Stυппed: Discover the Astoпishiпg Power of These Uпbelievable Aircraft Carriers.criss
-
Archaeology4d agoWhat We Discovered With a Metal Detector: A Priceless Treasure.hanh
-
Archaeology6d ago30 incredible sunken wrecks from WWI and WWII
-
Archaeology6d agoWho was the world's first author?
-
Archaeology6d ago'Remarkable' 1,000-year-old ring from Scotland's 'painted people' found at destroyed fort
-
Archaeology6d agoWhy haven't all primates evolved into humans?
-
Archaeology6d agoBabylonian Map of the World: The oldest known map of the ancient world