It is not thought the tomb (pictured) belonged to a member of the Han Dynasty royal family, however, because they were typically buried near the capital of Chang’an (modern Xi'an), which lay at the beginning of the important Silk Road trade route

However, excavations at the site are continuing.

A handful of Han burials, such as those of the Kings of Chu, yielded gold and jades, including an incredible jade suits and stone-inlaid coffins.

Jade was believed to protect the body from decay and demons.

Tombs were typically filled with provisions for the afterlife, such as jewellery, furniture, weapons and sometimes even cooks and servants who were sacrificed to serve their master for eternity.

Another two-storey tomb contained a small army of terracotta warriors and distinctive jades.

Most of the royal tombs containing a number of tombs were cut horizontally into the hillside - another suggestion this one did not hold a king.

Other types of Han tombs featured archways, vaulted cambers and domed roofs, with underground vaults held in place by earthen pits.

It is not clear from the photos released whether the newly discovered tomb is one of this type.

The 'new' tomb was found beneath the construction site of Beijing's second administrative centre in suburban Tongzhou.

Beijing is building a subsidiary centre in the suburb in a bid to cure ‘urban ills’ including overpopulation, traffic congestion and smog.

It is expected to relocate about 400,000 residents from the city centre to the suburban district.