The Legendary Tombs at Mawangdui

The discovery of Tomb Number 1 - which dated back to the Han period (206 B.C - 220 A.D) - at Mawangdui in the city of Changsha was an absolute breakthrough for Chinese archaeology. The funerary equipment, sarcophagi and the corpses found inside the tomb were all perfectly preserved. Mawangdui was the burial place chosen by the family of the Marquis of Dai. Li Cang, the first Marquis of Dai, his wife Xin Zhui and one of their children were all buried there. The exhibition is curated by Zhen Shubin and features 76 artifacts which reconstruct the private universe of an aristocratic family of the time. From beautiful containers from the Marquis’ wife toilette to a bronze mirrow, a wooden comb with thick teeth and a pair of bone tweezers. For the first time in Italy, visitors can experience an ancient civilization through a great archaeological discovery that reflects the very essence of what, at the time, was referred to as “the land of silk and porcelain”.