Grave robbers freaked out by pony-tailed mummy
March 22nd, 2012 - 11:15 pm ICT by IANSLondon, March 22 (IANS) Robbers in search of archaeological treasures in China were given the fright of their lives when they came across a pony-tailed mummy in a grave.
Rummaging through what looked like old sacks containing priceless artefacts, they instead unearthed a 130-year-old mummified body.
In near perfect condition with teeth and skin intact, the gaping mouthed mummy also sports the then hairstyle of the day - the queue, a unique cut imposed on the majority Han Chinese ethnic group during the Qing Dynasty, the Daily Mail reported Wednesday.
The hairstyle was compulsory for all males. Those who disobeyed Qing’s orders were accused of disloyalty - and executed for treason.
The 21st century grave robbers might escape the death penalty for looting the country of its 5,000 years of cultural history.
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Tags: archaeological treasures, china, chinese ethnic group, cultural history, daily mail, death penalty, disloyalty, grave robbers, london march, pony, priceless artefacts, qing dynasty, queue, sacks, teeth, treason