Chinese archaeologists unearthed a marble sphinx carving estimated to be at least 1,000 years old from an ancient tomb in Guyuan City, Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, Xinhua reported.
The marble sphinx is about 14 inches high and stands on a base measuring 8 inches long and 5 inches wide. It depicts the face of a human with a somewhat pointy head and the body of a sitting lion.
The tomb where it was excavated is believed to be that of Chinese scholar Liu Jun and his wife. It is one of the 29 tombs excavated along the old Silk Road, which was established during the Han Dynasty as a network of trade routes that connected the East and the West.
The site was recently excavated to prepare for the building of a local water plant.
Other items, including carvings of warriors, a horse, a camel and a few lions, were found together with the marble sphinx, which was surprisingly quite well preserved except for minor damage at the center of the head.
The marble sphinx was considered a rare find for two reasons. First, marble was not common in north China during ancient times. Second, the marble sphinx's design showed Western influence, suggesting it was originally from another place.
"The style of the carvings had features from the West and are considered rare for ancient Chinese tombs during that period," Fan Jun, head of the excavation team, said. He noted the "excellent craftsmanship" of the marble sphinx and the other carvings.
The archaeological find will give scientists a better understanding of the transport of goods along the Silk Road, Fan said.
The sphinx in Greek mythology is a lion with a human head. Its real name is not known. The term "sphinx" was used only around 2,000 years after the famous Great Sphinx of Giza was made in Egypt, according to the Smithsonian.