Burial Mounds in Tibet

Burial Mounds

Chongye Burial Mounds

Chongye Burial Mounds — also known as the Valley of the Kings in the Lhoka region in Tibet — is a major archaeological and historical site featuring ancient burial mounds believed to be the tombs of early Tibetan rulers from the Tibetan Empire (7th–9th century CE). These mounds are believed to contain the graves of Tibetan kings, queens, and high-ranking officials from the early Tibetan Empire.

The burial forms and archaeological context provide rare evidence of pre-Buddhist burial practices in Tibet, likely associated with the indigenous Bon religion and early Tibetan ritual traditions before Buddhism became dominant.

Traditional Tibetan sources and modern research indicate that the mounds include the tombs of important rulers such as Songtsen Gampo (the founder of the Tibetan Empire) and other early emperors like Mangsong Mangtsen, Tridu Songtsen, Trisong Detsen, Mune Tsenpo, and Ralpacan.