Over 131 coffins believed to be at least 1,200 years old have been found hanging on a 330 feet high cliff in Hubei province, China.

Assumed to be from the Tang Dynasty, this is allegedly the country's biggest cliff burial chamber uncovered. The coffins were placed in rectangular holes carved on one side of the cliff that spans up to 50 meters high fronting a river in Zigui county. 

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This kind of burial was a tradition during the ancient times practiced by most people in the central and south China particularly the Bo people, who are the native tribesmen of modern day provinces Sichuan and Yunnan. 

Some coffins were also discovered in man-made caves called the "Caves of the Fairies," which is situated just above the cliff near the Yanglinqiao village. While others were placed between rocks facing the cliff.

Yibin Museum curator Cui Chen revealed that there are three different kinds of coffins: those bolstered in wooden stakes or embedded on the rocks, others hidden inside caves and some rest between rocks. All these types of coffins were reportedly found in Gongxian. These hanging coffins were also found in the provinces of Sichuan, Yunnan, Jiangxi and Fujian.

The rituals behind this tradition have long been gone. And the reason for this practice may have been long buried too. However, experts believe that the practice was done because it prevents animals from eating the carcasses. Other say the deceased were buried above the ground in order to be nearer to the gods. But the question of how the ancient people managed to lift their dead and bury them in a cliff is still a mystery. 

Following this discovery, the town's deputy head Zhao Chenggang has announced plans to keep the cultural site and declared the area under special protection.

Because "xuanguan," the Chinese translation for hanging coffin, sounds like the word for "promoting the official," a local media reported that several officials were seen worshiping the sites. 

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