The Top 10 New Archaeological Discoveries of 2005 were unveiled
Tuesday night in Beijing and more than half of them from outside
the Yellow River Valley, considered the cradle of Chinese
civilization.
They may shed light on China's multiple cultural origins,
experts said.
The Xiaohuangshan relics in East China's Zhejiang Province, which were excavated early
last year, are an example.
The relics, which date back 8,000-10,000 years, could rewrite
the country's archaeological history as they are much older than
the Hemudu site in the province, which was previously believed to
have nurtured the earliest Neolithic culture in China's south about
7,000 years ago.
At the site, researchers found several deep ditches which they
believed were storerooms and some signs of barbecuing.
In Southwest China, a large number of pits for sacrifice were
found among the relics in Zhongshui, Guizhou Province.
Inside the pits, crockery ranging from the late New Stone Age to
the Western Han Dynasty (206 BC - AD 24) was uncovered, providing
strong evidence for future research into the rice-growing culture
of Zhongshui area 3,100 years ago.
In East China's Fujian Province, archaeologists discovered six
kilns of the Shang Dynasty (16th-11th century BC) in Pucheng, a
city in the north of the province.
More than 300 pieces, including pottery, stoneware and bronze
implements have been excavated. Researchers are continuing work in
the area.
"It was the first time we found such a large kiln group in the
country," said archaeologist Xu Pingfang.
The competition has been held for 16 years. This year's top
spots were selected from about 400 archaeological discoveries last
year.
Top 10 ancient sites
Xiaohuangshan Relics, Zhejiang Province Neolithic culture
Gaomiao Relics, Hunan Province Earliest white pottery
Zhongshui Relics, Guizhou Province Sacrifice pits
Liuzhuang Relics, Henan Province Neolithic culture
Maoershan Relics, Fujian Province Kiln group
Hengshui Relics, Shanxi Province Cemetery decoration
Liangdaicun Relics, Shaanxi Province Graveyard for nobles
Jurong and Jintan Relics, Jiangsu Province Mound graveyards
Huangyangzhuang Relics, Henan Province Courtyards in Han Dynasty
(206 BC - AD 220)
Datong Relics, Shanxi Province Tomb mural
(China Daily May 10, 2006)
