THE EMPTY PIT

Although the excavation of the mausoleum is almost complete, archaeologists are still puzzled by the purpose of the No.1 pit, which was found to contain only an iron sword.

"The tomb was built at the same period as the main tomb, and the two are only 30 meters apart. The No. 1 pit is smaller and less decorated, which suggests it is a satellite tomb," said Pan Weibin, a chief researcher with the provincial bureau.

The file picture taken on Dec. 30, 2009 shows archaeologists work at the site where the Mausoleum of Cao Cao is located in Anyang, a city in central China's Henan Province. The Mausoleum of Cao Cao, a legendary Chinese warlord during the Three Kingdoms period (208-280 A.D.), has recently been declared as Cultural Relics under Provincial Protection. The tomb is located near the Yellow River and the city of Anyang, where Cao Cao ruled the Kingdom of Wei from 208 to 220, when he died at the age of 65. (Xinhua/Zhu Xiang)

He said the tomb had been severely damaged with seven holes opened by tomb robbers.

There are many assumptions about the tomb. Some said it had been occupied by Cao Ang, eldest son of Cao Cao, who died before his father.