Chinese villagers loot UNESCO World Heritage site while it's being cleaned
The villagers of Huaxian County in Henan, China, took "finders keepers" to a whole new level on Thursday when a 1,800-year-old UNESCO World Heritage site was drained for cleaning.
The Weihe River, which is part of the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal, was a scene of a scavenger hunt when villagers flocked to the site to dig for treasure.
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According to People's Daily, the river was drained for routine cleaning and when villagers caught wind of it, decided it was a once in a lifetime chance to help themselves to the treasures buried underground.
The discovery of ancient relics in the Grand Canal when local authorities stop water to dredge it, is oft reported in Chinese newspapers.
The Grand Canal stretches for 1,240 miles long, and was reportedly used as a navigational channel during the fifth century BC. The drained section is one of the best-preserved parts of the canal, measuring five miles long and 180 feet wide.
Local Chinese media outlets reported that many villagers who turned up at the site got lucky and took home gold ingots, ancient bronze coins and ceramic relics.
The looting of ancient tomb sites is a common occurrence in China and not without dire consequences. In January, two Chinese men died after being trapped in a Shaanxi tomb site, after their attempt to rob it went awry.
[H/T: Daily Mail]
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