Tombs Found at China Olympic Site

[Christina (imported)]

By Associated Press

document.write(getElapsed("20060508T122824Z"));Mon May 8, 8:28 AMUPDATED 8 HOURS 2 MINUTES AGO

BEIJING, China - Ancient imperial tombs were unearthed during construction at a competition site for the 2008 Beijing Olympics, prompting work to be suspended.

The tombs, found in mid-April, are believed to date more than 500 years to the Ming dynasty and may be those of eunuchs serving at the imperial court, the Beijing Morning Post said Monday.

Beijing has been the site of various Chinese governments for more than 1,000 years, and almost every major building project unearths grave sites or relics. Most are removed or destroyed before experts can examine them.

Archeologists have found coins, ceramics and jade in the tombs at the Olympic shooting range on the Chinese capital's western outskirts, state media said.

Zhu Jing, a spokeswoman for the Beijing organizers, said she had no information on how the discovery would affect construction. Liu Baoshan, an official of the Beijing Cultural Relics Department, declined to give an age for the tombs.

Olympic organizers broke ground in July 2004 for the shooting range.

The main Olympic facilities are on Beijing's north side while other facilities are scattered throughout the city.