Dimensions:Blade width: 13.5cm; height: 11cm; weight: 22.8 g

Origin:Unearthed from Han Tomb 1 at Mawangdui of Changsha in 1972

This object is fairly intact, with the left shoulder of the blade slightly protruding and lower than the right shoulder. This was specially designed to make it easier for the left foot to stamp down the blade. 

Cha (spade) is a main tool to dig up soil in the Han Dynasty and it played a great role in fetching soil for irrigation projects. Official History of the Han Dynasty: Book of Ditches and Canals records: “Raising high the spade is cloud and digging ditches is rain.” The iron blade of cha was called bie in the Han Dynasty.