Researchers have digitally mapped ancient tombs across China, revealing how political stability, population shifts, and geography influenced burial practices over 4,000 years. The analysis shows more elaborate tombs during prosperous eras and concentrations in fertile regions. Published in PLOS One, the findings aim to aid cultural heritage preservation.
Tombs built from the 4,000-year-old Xia Dynasty to the present day provide insights into China's long-term social and political trends. A study published on October 29, 2025, in the open-access journal PLOS One by Quanbao Ma of Beijing University of Civil Engineering and Architecture and colleagues details a comprehensive digital map of these burial sites.
The researchers identified patterns linking tomb distribution to socioeconomic conditions and local geography. Better-preserved tombs often date to periods of relative political and economic stability, such as the Qin-Han and Yuan-Ming-Qing dynasties. In contrast, fewer tombs survive from turbulent times, like the Five Dynasties period. The study suggests that during prosperous eras, people had more resources to invest in burial customs and afterlife beliefs.
Population movements also shaped tomb locations. Frequent conflicts in northern China from the late Eastern Han dynasty through the Northern and Southern dynasties drove communities southward, resulting in higher concentrations of tombs in southern regions.
Two areas stand out with large numbers of surviving tombs: the Chengdu-Chongqing region, featuring fertile and level terrain, and the Central Plains, with flat landscapes, ample water, and humidity that likely aided artifact preservation. These environmental factors supported enduring settlements.
The authors emphasize the value of these sites for understanding cultural heritage. They state: "This study conducted a systematic digital survey and analysis of the spatiotemporal distribution characteristics and influencing factors of ancient tombs in China, revealing their evolution patterns and influencing factors, thus laying an important theoretical foundation for building a scientific and precise protection system."
Funded by the National Social Science Fund of China (grant 22FYSB019 to Quanbao Ma), the research had no external influence on its design or conclusions.