A Journey into History
Nestled in the mountains of Tingri County, in the quaint village of Maduo, lies the ancient Surij Tomb Complex. This archaeological marvel faces eastward, boasting 61 unique tombs that paint a picture of a civilization long gone. The tombs, intriguingly, come in shapes of rectangles, circles, and trapezoids, each filled with a mix of natural cobblestones and sand.
Architectural Wonders
The rectangular tombs are especially notable, with dimensions that tell the tale of meticulous design: 12 meters in length at the front, tapering slightly to 11 meters at the back, 6 meters wide, and standing at a modest height of 0.48 meters. These structures are built from stacked stones, showcasing the craftsmanship of their builders.
Circular tombs range in diameter from a mere 0.17 meters to an expansive 21 meters, with a uniform height of 38 centimeters. The trapezoidal tombs are a marvel of engineering, with a front length of 18.2 meters, a back length of 11 meters, a width of 17.6 meters, and a height of 1.48 meters. These tombs feature three-tiered steps at their entrance, resembling a stone wall, adding to their mystique.
Excavations, particularly at Tomb 42, have unearthed human skeletons, pottery shards, and iron pieces, devoid of any decorations. Carbon-14 dating places these tombs in the Tubo (Tibetan Empire) period, suggesting they are over 1,200 years old.
