Two ancient tombs decorated with rare murals dating back to the Tang Dynasty (618-907) have been discovered in northwest China's Shaanxi Province, local authorities said on Friday.

The delicate paintings reflect scenes of huren (tribesmen from the north) training horses and leading camels. They were found last month at Buli Village, some 40 kilometers from the provincial capital of Xi'an, according to the Shaanxi Academy of Archaeology.

A horse-taming huren painted on one of the tombs is believed to be linked to the life of the tomb's owner – an official in charge of horses in the early Tang Dynasty according to the epitaph, said Li Ming, a researcher with the academy.

Li said the images of horses and hounds are very rare for tomb murals in the Tang Dynasty period, noting that the vivid humans and animals depicted are well preserved.

A mural depicting a scene of music and dance in the second tomb, owned by a royal couple, is in the typical style of the golden age of the Tang Dynasty.

The discovery of the two tombs has provided new materials for the study of murals and social customs at the time, Li added.

(Cover: Murals dating back to the Tang Dynasty (618-907) found in a tomb at Buli Village, Xixian New Area, northwest China's Shaanxi Province, December 15, 2020. /Xinhua)