Stone carving discovered in Qinghai stirs debate

A stone carving that some scholars believe dates back more than 2,200 years and could carry major cultural significance has ignited a heated debate among history enthusiasts, as several university professors have raised concerns that the inscriptions may be modern forgeries.

The controversy began with a June 8 report in Guangming Daily, in which Tong Tao, a researcher at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences' Institute of Archaeology, claimed archaeologists had recently discovered a stone carving linked to Emperor Qinshihuang — the first Chinese ruler to hold the title huangdi, or "emperor" — who founded the Qin Dynasty (221-206 BC).

According to the report, the inscriptions were found near Gyaring Lake in present-day Madoi county, Qinghai province, at an altitude of about 4,300 meters. Photos published alongside the story showed that the characters were clear and in relatively good condition.