"The past" said Chairman Mao, "should serve the present" - and during the Cultural
Revolution in China immense effort was put into archaeological excavations.
Finds that resulted were of world importance - and are only now being revealed to the West.
"Chronicle" has obtained from Peking extraordinary film that charts the discoveries made in China between 1966 and 1972. Jade, lacquer, silks and objects of bronze, gold and silver from periods as early as 1000 BC. But the most remarkable discoveries were two bodies from just before the time of Christ. Both bodies are complete, not mummified. Doctors have been able to analyse them and minutely detail their age, stature and cause of death; Their work, like the bodies, is unique. Filmed by China Films, Peking