Chinese archaeologists have uncovered evidence of a mother’s love that has endured for over 4,000 years in Qinghai province, China. The remains of a mother and child were found in a deadly embrace, frozen in time in the stance they took before a catastrophic earthquake wiped out China’s “Pompeii of the East” around 2,000 BC.
The skeletons of the mother and child are interlocked, with the mother kneeling down on the ground and her arms wrapped tightly around her son. Archaeologists believe that the mother’s embrace was an attempt to protect her child from the earthquake that triggered massive floods, sometimes referred to as “China’s Pompeii,” which struck China in 2000 BC.
The tragic scene at the Lajia Ruins Museum, located in northwest China’s Qinghai province, has been compared to the Pompeii tragedy, where a Roman city was wiped out after a volcanic eruption buried it under ash and pumice. The site is riddled with heartbreaking scenes, depicting the fate of people who were killed by a disaster they could do nothing to protect themselves against, not even their children.
From an archaeological perspective, the site is stunning and provides a well-preserved picture of an important ancient event. It is also significant because it offers early clues to an early Bronze Age civilization that lived in the upper Yellow River region, of which little is known.
This discovery is a testimony to nature’s strength and how powerless we can be against it. It is hoped that the two skeletons will not be separated as it seems wrong to do so. It is not for religious reasons but rather from a human perspective that their embrace should endure as a symbol of a mother’s love that has lasted over four millennia.
