Core Viewpoint - The discovery of a couple's joint burial tomb from the Northern Song Dynasty in Shanxi Province provides significant evidence for distinguishing between Song and Jin burial practices [1][2][3] Group 1: Archaeological Findings - The tomb, dated to the eighth year of the Yuanyou era (1093), was excavated in the western outskirts of Fenyang and contained a rich array of artifacts, including 21 items such as painted ceramic soul towers and bowls, which are believed to serve a protective function [2] - The tomb structure is a soil cave type, consisting of a burial passage, door, and chamber, and is unique in the region as most Song Dynasty tombs are brick chamber structures [2][3] Group 2: Historical Context - The tomb belongs to Du Taijun and her husband, with their son Ren Fang responsible for the burial, indicating familial connections and practices of the time [2] - Previous excavations in the area lacked specific dating, often being broadly categorized as belonging to the Song and Jin periods, making this discovery crucial for clarifying the distinctions between these two historical periods [3] Group 3: Significance of Artifacts - The intact combination of ceramic soul towers and bowls found in the tomb offers important references for studying the funerary items and their functional uses in similar contemporaneous burials [3]

Core Viewpoint - The discovery of a couple's joint burial tomb from the Northern Song Dynasty provides significant evidence for distinguishing between Song and Jin tombs, with the completeness of the ceramic soul towers offering valuable insights into the funerary items and their functions during that period [1][11]. Group 1: Archaeological Findings - The excavation was conducted by the Shanxi Provincial Institute of Archaeology and the Luliang City Cultural Relics and Archaeology Survey Team from October 2021 to June 2022, focusing on ancient remains within the Changrui Fenzhoufu residential project area in Fenyang City [3]. - The tomb dates back to the eighth year of the Yuanyou era (1093) and is identified as a couple's joint burial site for Du Taijun and her husband, with their son Ren Fang overseeing the burial [6]. Group 2: Artifacts Discovered - A total of 21 artifacts were unearthed, including ceramic soul towers, ceramic jars, ceramic bowls, ceramic plates, porcelain bowls, inkstones, wooden combs, copper coins, copper hairpins, copper ornaments, and a tomb inscription [6][8]. - The ceramic soul towers and bowls are believed to serve a protective function for the tomb, representing a variation of Daoist "解注器" that evolved from the Han Dynasty [8]. Group 3: Significance of the Findings - The discovery of this tomb is particularly important as it is one of the few clearly dated Song tombs in the Fenyang area, which has mostly yielded undated tombs that are generically classified as belonging to the Song and Jin periods [11]. - The intact grouping of the ceramic soul towers and their similarities to artifacts found in other Song and Jin tombs provide critical reference points for understanding the funerary practices and item functions of that era [11].