Pages: 253-260
A solidus of Byzantine Emperor Anastsius I (or its imitation) was found during the excavation of a brick tomb in Luoyang, Henan Province, in Central China. According to the location and construction of the tomb, the structure and characteristics of grave goods (partly preserved, because the tomb had been looted), the tomb can be dated back to the final period of the Northern Wei dynasty, i. e. to 525—534 AD, and presumably belongs to the one of the late Northern Wei rulers, most probably to Yuan Gong, Emperor Jiemin (period of reign: 531—532 AD). The gold solidus unearthed from the tomb is classified as MIB-Anastasius-4 type and dates back to the period of 492—507 AD. A short time interval between its coining and getting into the grave suggests the high intensity of China-Byzantine contacts during 5th—6th centuries AD. Sogdian and Hephthalite embassies probably played a mediating role in this communication.
Keywords: China, Northern Wei, elite tombs, Byzantine coins, China-Byzantine contacts, Silk Road
Information about authors:
Petr Shuvalov (Saint Petersburg, Russian Federation). Candidate of Historical Sciences. Saint Petersburg State University. Universitetskaya Emb., 7/9, Saint Petersburg, 199034, Russian Federation
E-mail: [email protected], [email protected]
Daniil Shulga (Novosibirsk, Russian Federation). Candidate of Historical Sciences. Siberian Institute of Management, Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration (RANEPA). Nizhegorodskaya St., 6, Novosibirsk, 630102, Russian Federation; Novosibirsk State University. Pirogov St., 1, Novosibirsk, 630090, Russian Federation
E-mail: [email protected]
Maria Kudinova (Beijing, China; Novosibirsk, Russian Federation). Candidate of Historical Sciences. Peking University, School of Archaeology and Museology. Zhongguancunbei Ave., 126, Haidian District, Beijing, 100871, China; Institute of Archaeology and Ethnography of Siberian branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences. Acad. Lavrentiev Ave., 17, Novosibirsk, 630090, Russian Federation
E-mail: [email protected]