CHONGQING, Jan. 11 (Xinhua) -- An ancient tomb group dating back to the South Song Dynasty (1127-1279) has been found in southwest China's Chongqing Municipality recently, local authorities said Friday.

Located in Baotang Village, Qingnian Township in the Wansheng economic development district, the tomb group has been well preserved so far, said Linghu Keqiang, curator of the Wansheng museum.

Archaeologists are clearing the weed and earth at the excavation site of the tomb group. One tomb that had already been unearthed was built of sand and stone in the shape of a rectangle. The inside walls of the tomb were engraved with exquisite flower patterns.

A white pottery pot that was also unearthed from the tomb will serve as a very important piece for the research on the funeral customs and local economic and social development in the South Song Dynasty, local archaeologists said.

Judging from the shape and characteristics of the recently-discovered tombs, archaeologists identified that seven tombs of the tomb group were from the South Song Dynasty.

Excavation work on the tomb group is still underway.