Two press conferences and dozens of interviews by experts over the past two weeks have failed to quiet the unprecedented public debate on the ownership of an ancient tomb discovered in Anyang, Henan province.

Archaeological officials believe the tomb belongs to Cao Cao (AD 155 to 220), a legendary ruler during China's most dramatic historical period, the Three Kingdoms (AD 220 to 280). But skepticism spread like wildfire soon after the discovery was revealed to the public on Dec 7.

Gao Xing, director of the Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology under the Chinese Academy of Sciences, said as an archaeologist he trusted his peer's expertise to arrive at a valid conclusion.