During the years 1995-1996, the Yuangzhou Archaeological Excavations in China, funded by Japan Ministry of Education Grant-in-Aid for International Scientific Research, was a Joint Project by Japan and China.
During 1995, we discovered the Tomb of Shi Daoluo who lived during Tang dynasty, and was buried in 658 A. D. A Byzantine gold coin (Justin II, 565-578 A. D.) was discovered.
During 1996, the tomb of the Northern Zhou dynasty prime minister Tian Hong was discovered, who died and was buried in 575 A. D.
Five Byzantine gold coins: one Leo I, the Thracian (457-474 A. D.) coin, one Justin I (518-527 A. D.) coin, two Justinian I, co-regent (527 A. D.) coins, and one Justinian I, the Great (527-565 A. D.) coin were found.
This thesis 1) describes in detail and lists Byzantine gold coins excavated in China from 1914 to the present, including the coins from the Tomb of Shi Daoluo and from the Tomb of Tian Hong, 2) considers the background of cultural and economic relations between China and the West.
