Archeologists excavate relics of musical instruments from a complex of tombs dating back thousands of years in Zaoyang city, Central China's Hubei province, Jan 5, 2015. [Photo/cnhubei.com]

Cultural relics of musical instruments have been unearthed from a complex of tombs possibly dating back thousands of years in Zaoyang city, Central China's Hubei province, on Jan 5, 2015.

Chinese archaeologists excavated an ancient stringed instrument "Se" and a frame to hold chime bells among the other items of cultural relics from the grave, which is about 1,500 meters long and 800 meters wide.

The stringed instrument could be the earliest musical instrument that has ever been found in China, said the archaeologists at site.

They said the relics will help in the study of Chinese musical development from the Western Zhou Dynasty (1046-771BC) to the Warring States Period (476-221BC).

Large pits for chariots, horses, and weapons have also been discovered, which challenges the previous opinions about the Zeng state (771 to 476 BC) in ancient China, Fang Qing told Chutian Metro Daily.

Fang, director of the Cultural Relics and Archeology Research Institute of Hubei province, said that the relics prove that the Zeng state was a big power rather than a smaller one.

More mysteries about the Zeng state are expected to be unearthed, said the expert.