Ancient Chinese Ceramic Pillows

In 1983, an amazing accidental discovery was made in downtown Guangzhou, China. The 2,000-year-old tomb of an ancient king was found completely intact, surrounded by archaeological treasures. Nanyue King Zhao Mo ruled from 137 to 122 BCE and was the second of five leaders of the Nanyue Kingdom, a state within the Western Han Dynasty.

A museum was erected around this incredible find, where the ruler’s mausoleum lies 65 feet underground. The body is outfitted in a rare and remarkable burial suit made of more than 2,200 rectangular jade pieces sewn with silk thread. Foreign artifacts like African elephant trunks and Southeast Asian incense and frankincense were found alongside the tomb, suggesting Guangzhou was a stop along the ancient Silk Road.