A mother’s love appears after 4,000 years

World Today

A mother embracing her child during their final moments on earth.

On the upper reaches of China’s Yellow River, in Minhe County, in northwest China’s Qinghai province lies an area known as Lajia. Evidence of the Bronze Age-era culture known as Qijia is still being discovered in the area, including skeletons of people taking cover from an earthquake that devastated the area around 2000 BC.

This map shows where the Lajia site is in the Minhe county, where evidence of the Bronze Age Qijia culture can still be found.

This map shows where the Lajia site is in the Minhe county, where evidence of the Bronze Age Qijia culture can still be found.

Amazingly, the skeletons have been well preserved and show their final positions during the earthquake.

The most heartwarming is one of a mother embracing her child. That image has tugged at the heartstrings of many Chinese internet users.

A mother embracing her child during their final moments on earth.

A mother embracing her child during their final moments on earth.

These two skeletons were captured in a moment together - possibly with one person trying to protect the other by shielding them with their body.

These two skeletons were captured in a moment together – possibly with one person trying to protect the other by shielding them with their body.

The earthquake is believed to have happened 4,000 years ago - around 2000 BC.

The earthquake is believed to have happened 4,000 years ago – around 2000 BC.

A number of other artifacts have been discovered in the now preserved  area - including the first  known noodles ever discovered.

A number of other artifacts have been discovered in the now preserved area – including the first known noodles ever discovered.

Story compiled with information from the People’s Daily.