2,400-year-old bronze bells set to be recognised as a global musical treasure
A 2,400-year-old set of bronze chime bells has recently been inscribed in UNESCO's Memory of the World Register. Academics and cultural custodians, particularly those who observed the excavation nearly 50 years ago, have been commemorating this historic milestone in music history, reported by Xinhua News Agency, a partner of TV BRICS.
Weighing nearly five tonnes and consisting of 65 intricately crafted bells, the set features thousands of inscribed characters, which is the only surviving musical treatise from its time. Found in the tomb of an ancient ruler, the bells were part of a lavish burial ensemble that included over 120 additional instruments, such as stone chimes, zithers, and flutes, revealing a highly developed musical tradition.
What makes these bells unique is their dual-tone capability: each one produces two distinct pitches depending on where it is struck, a technological marvel that stunned researchers. Since their discovery, hundreds of similar artefacts have been found in the region, making it one of the richest archaeological sites for ancient music.
Experts describe the bells as more than a national treasure: they are a testament to human ingenuity and cultural continuity.
Photo: iStock
-
![]()
Culture14.08.26Summer "Russian Seasons" comes to close in Thailand -
![]()
Culture10.08.26BRICS countries adopt Bhopal Declaration on Cultural Cooperation -
![]()
Culture04.08.26Iran joins world's top 10 for UNESCO World Heritage Sites -
![]()
Culture23.07.26China and Russia mark treaty anniversary through shared orchestral performance -
![]()
Culture21.07.26Director General of M. I. Rudomino All-Russian State Library for Foreign Literature, Marina Zakharenko: "Without understanding of another’s culture, it is impossible to build dialogue and long-term partnerships" -
![]()
Culture14.07.26GITIS Summer School in Kyrgyzstan brings together Central Asia's theatre community
-
![Sergey Lavrov]()
Sergey LavrovRussian Foreign Minister"A Joint Statement of the Foreign Ministers has been adopted. It provides a clear and principled assessment of the situation on the international stage and outlines the tasks that will be addressed in accordance with previous decisions by heads of state and governments. No one doubts that additional documents on sectoral areas of cooperation will be developed ahead of the SCO summit in Bishkek. Energy, artificial intelligence, healthcare and a number of other areas were also mentioned" -
![Nitin Gadkari]()
Nitin GadkariIndia's Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways"Our resolution has just been passed. It is very important as far as the BRICS countries are concerned, which cover 40 per cent of the world's population. We are committed to the futuristic development of the transport sector, to create cooperation, coordination and communication between the stakeholders. This resolution indicates a lot of new technology and innovation in the transport sector. It covers the road sector, railways, aviation and water transport" -
![Anutin Charnvirakul]()
Anutin CharnvirakulPrime Minister of Thailand"Russia has been a trusted friend of Thailand for over a century. […] Next year, we will mark the 130th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between our countries. We will commemorate this important milestone with high-level exchanges, thereby reaffirming our shared commitment to an even stronger partnership for the benefit of our peoples"
