10 skeletons at the bottom of the lake
In a small village in Guangdong province, China, there is a deep lake in the middle of a natural cave complex called Green Cave Lake. According to Kknews, the area of this lake is not very large, just over 100 square meters, the depth is about 50 meters.
The water under the lake is especially clear with a characteristic emerald color, the temperature is always stable at 20℃ – 27℃, so it attracts a lot of diving enthusiasts to experience, even many local companies even Take advantage of this place to organize a diving course.
No one expected that it was one of those dives that helped uncover a terrible secret at the bottom of the Blue Cave lake.
Hang Xanh Lake is a prominent local tourist attraction. Photo: Kknews.com
In November 2012, a group of explorers were participating in a normal diving session to the bottom of the lake, at a depth of 46 meters, they were startled to discover 10 human skeletons tied with chains. The expedition team saw the terrible incident, immediately surfaced and reported the incident to the authorities.
The chain marks show that this is definitely not a natural death, so what caused these people to suffer a tragic end at the bottom of the lake?
When archaeologists conducted surveys, they discovered that out of 10 skeletons, only 1 person was male, the rest were all female.
Radiocarbon methods also show that these remains are not of modern humans but have appeared here since the Qing Dynasty.
After salvaging the skeletons ashore, archaeologists organized historical exploration and information from local people.
As a result, within a few days, an 86-year-old woman in the village helped find the solution for those unfortunate people. This woman revealed to archaeologists about a cruel local punishment in feudal times called “soaking the pigsty”.
“Underwater Grave”
According to the old woman in the village, archaeologists have been looking for the origin of this cruel punishment. QQ said, the archaeological team has confirmed that the skeletons found are related to the custom of “soaking the pigsty”.
According to the law of the village, the guilty will be tied up, locked in a bamboo pigpen, tied with more bricks and stones, and then drowned in the lake (to increase the weight of the cage to quickly sink into the water). The people around did not stop cursing, even throwing stones until they sank to the bottom of the lake.
The cage was once used to confine criminals. Photo: Kknews.com
So who will bear this cruel punishment?
Men in feudal times “five wives, seven concubines” were commonplace, but women were not. Women in earlier times suffered a lot of humiliation, were required to serve only one husband all their lives, so even widowed, they were not allowed to remarry or fall in love with someone else.
Illustration
In addition, unmarried men and women who decide to live together without the consent of their parents are also committing a felony. According to the “village rule”, in both cases, the woman will be punished by “soaking the pigsty”.
The men in the village will also be subject to this punishment if they commit theft.
This cruel punishment has been portrayed in many Chinese dramas. Photo: Kknews.com
This cruel custom is not a rule of the court, but just a custom in some backward and remote rural areas. Under the Qing Dynasty, in crowded cities or capitals, people who saw adultery would report it to the government, but were not allowed to suppress and handle others.
After the archeological discovery in 2012, Hang Xanh lake has become a scary place in the eyes of local people as well as a “historical witness” to the cruel practices of the feudal period.
