China's major archaeological finds in last five years (part 2)

A stone carving from Shiqu rock engravings of Tubo Kingdom. [File photo/Xinhua]

Shiqu rock engravings of Tubo Kingdom (7th to 9th century), Shiqu county, Sichuan province

Investigations on the early cliff carvings in Shiqu county in Southwest China's Sichuan province have been conducted by archaeologists from 2010 to 2013.

Three stone inscriptions remains including 18 units have been found respectively on the Xuba Holy Mountain, on the Baima Holy Mountain and in the Yanjiaocun village.

The carvings were preserved well, covering a rich variety of patterns including images of the Five Buddhas, Vairocana, Bodhisattvas, Tara and ancient Tibetan inscriptions, which were prevalent motifs of the Tubo kingdom.

Shiqu county was the first place in Sichuan where large area of Tubo carvings has been found. It provided new materials to study the ancient transportation roads between the Tang Empire and Tibet.

Besides, the discovery was of great significance to study Buddhism history of Tubo Kingdom, the relationship between Tang Dynasty and Tubo Kingdom, as well as the Buddhism's regional development on the Tibetan Plateau.

Shiqu rock engravings of Tubo Kingdom in Shiqu county of Sichuan province was listed as one of China's top 10 archaeological discoveries in 2013.