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Some
twenty auxiliary tombs, probably holding the remains of the emperor's
councilors and retainers, were discovered in four locations. One is in
the northern part of the city itself and features twenty-eight small or
medium sized burials. Another is in the western section between the walls,
while others are scattered in the eastern and western sections outside
the wall. These auxiliary tombs also hold the remains of princes and princesses
killed by Hu Hai, the second son the Emperor Qin, after he usurped the
throne. He condemned his siblings to death on the pretext of "accompanying
their father".
The largest auxiliary tomb is that of Prince
Gao, one of the sons of Qin Shi Huang. It is claimed the prince said he
would rather die than ascend the throne. His tomb was found in the western
section. The interior tomb measures 15.5 meters in length and 14.5 meters
in width, with a 15.8 meter entry pathway. It was said also that Prince
Gao requested to be buried near his father.
The seventeen tombs, neatly arranged from
north to south found in Shangjiao Village attracted great attention. Eight
tombs excavated in 1976 yielded two hundred pieces of gold and silver,
as well as bronze and iron articles inscribed with words such as "Shao
Fu" (Young Master's Mansion) or "Rong Lu" (Honor and Fortune).
The objects indicate that these tombs held the remains the royal siblings
of Huhai.
Also near Taochitou village and Zhaobeihou
village, other auxilitary tombs were found.
A hundred tombs were excavated in 1978 and
revealed the skeletal remains of one hundred people, but failed to yield
coffins or other objects. Inscriptions show that nineteen of those entombed
were slaves from the six conquered states.
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