The perfectly preserved remains of five chariots and 12 horses - believed to be at least 3,000 years old - have been found in the Chinese city of Luoyang. The remains have remained undisturbed since the early Western Zhou dynasty (1046-771 BCE).
     Archaeologists believe the 12 horses lying side by side show the animals were slaughtered before burial, not buried alive. As well as the horses and five chariots, bronzes and ceramics have escaped the clutches of grave robbers.
     Archaeologists are convinced that the perfectly preserved tomb belongs to an official or a scholar of standing, given the pottery, metal weaponry and inscriptions. The tomb, a vertical earthen pit, has excited historians since it was discovered during the construction of a hospital. It gives an unprecedented insight into the funeral customs in the early Western Zhou dynasty.

Edited from Metro.co.uk (1 September 2011)