Archaeologists have discovered more than 6,000 pieces of fish-scale armor in the tomb of Liu He, Marquis of Haihun, located in Nanchang, Jiangxi Province, China, showcasing the advanced craftsmanship of the Western Han Dynasty (206 BC - 25 AD).

        The pile of fish-scale armor encased in a soil block from the tomb of the                 Marquis of Haihun. Credit: Jiangxi Provincial Institute of Cultural Relics                                    and Archaeology.

Liu He was an intriguing historical figure, being the grandson of Emperor Wu of Han and the son of the King of Changyi. Ascending the throne as King of Changyi at the age of four, his life took a dramatic turn. In 74 BC. In 2000 BC, the influential minister Huo Guang installed Liu He as emperor after the death of Emperor Zhao. However, his reign was short-lived, lasting only 27 days due to accusations of misconduct. Historical records mention 1,127 cases of inappropriate behavior. As a result, Liu He was overthrown, stripped of his titles, and exiled. In 63 BC, he was given the title Marquis of Haihun and lived out the rest of his years in relative obscurity until his death in 59 BC.

Liu He's tomb, discovered in 2011 during a rescue excavation prompted by reports of looting, is one of the best-preserved Western Han burial sites. It contains an incredible collection of over 20,000 artifacts, including gold coins, bronze lamps, lacquerware, and even the oldest known portrait of Confucius.Fish-scale armor, excavated in the western part of the tomb's outer chamber, was discovered along with swords and other weapons. Archaeologists believe that the armor was originally stored in lacquer boxes, as evidenced by traces of lacquered leather found at the site. Over time, these boxes deteriorated, leaving the armor and weapons in a disorganized pile.

      Detail of the armor pieces unearthed from the tomb. Credit: Jiangxi                               Provincial Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology

The excavation team, led by Yang Jun of the Jiangxi Provincial Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology, carefully removed the pile of earth to prevent further deterioration caused by groundwater seepage from nearby Poyang Lake. The artifacts were transported to the Nanchang Museum of Haihunhou State Ruins of the Han Dynasty for laboratory analysis. After two years of painstaking work, the researchers restored about 6,000 individual pieces of armor.

The armor is a unique composite creation, made of lacquered iron, copper, and leather, which is a radical departure from the single-material armor generally associated with the Han dynasty. Bai Rongjin, a researcher at the Institute of Archaeology of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, explains: “The smallest piece of armor is only 1 centimeter wide and 0.2 centimeters thick. This indicates a very refined forging process, as smaller plates require more parts to build the armor, reflecting an advanced level of craftsmanship. »Most pieces of armor from the Han Dynasty are between 4 and 10 centimeters, and even the thin armor in the tomb of Prince Liu Sheng is 2 to 3 centimeters wide. The unprecedented size and composite nature of these plates highlight the technological advances in armor production during Liu He’s era. The tomb’s burial environment presented significant conservation challenges. According to Yang Jun, earthquakes and rising water levels in Lake Poyang have the armor is fragile and thin. Despite these difficulties, this discovery remains a monumental contribution to the understanding of Han dynasty military technology.Combining iron, copper, and leather, the armor exemplifies the craftsmanship and innovation of the era, providing an invaluable resource for future research.