Gold plates indicate tomb's royal Han origin

Researchers carefully brush dirt off hoof-shaped gold ingots and golden plates on Friday at the excavation and research lab of the Marquis Haihun tomb in Nanchang, Jiangxi province. [Photo by Guo Jing/Asianewsphoto]

About 100 gold discs and gold hoof-shaped ingots were excavated from the tomb on Thursday. The ancient Chinese character zhong (middle) was inscribed on some of the ingots, the significance of which is not yet known.

In addition to the gold plates unearthed on Friday, 78 kilograms of golden artifacts has been excavated. Based on Friday's gold price-223 yuan ($34.5) per gram - the treasure is worth $2.7 million, not counting its historical and archaeological value.