"The inscriptions have proved the building used to be the government office of the musical department in ancient city of Xianyang in the Qin Dynasty," she said.

Archaeologists also found burned signs, including cracks on the chime pieces.

Xu said two of the four rooms were empty, which may have indicated that the former office had been looted before being burned.

"Except the chimes that were smashed to pieces, the other stuff in the rooms may have been burgled, with inflammable objects burned to ashes," she said, estimating the looting may have been connected to the uprising that ended the Qin emperor's reign.

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