tang-era royal tombs featured large commemorative archways leading into urban areas, complete with broad avenues (spirit ways) containing larger-than-life human and animal statuary, ritual halls, and elaborate gardens. These avenues led to the burial mound, which was located above the tomb entrance. A vertical shaft connected the mound to an underground burial chember. in front of each Tang tomb stands a focal memorial stone marker (stela) that proclaims the worldly accomplishments of the deceased. Tang tombs are also known for their sancai, three-colored glazed pottery figures of horses and human figures that were intended to accompany the deceased in their death.