Since their discovery in 1898, the Yin ruins of Henan Province have provided the world with over 150,000 oracle artifacts. Inscribed with records of harvests, astronomical phenomena, worship and wars of the Shang dynasty (1600–1100 B.C., also known as the Yin dynasty), the tortoiseshells and animal bones from the Yin ruins are now scattered across the globe.

The oracles are inscribed with what is regarded as one of the earliest written languages, which formed the basis for modern Chinese characters. Many scholars around the world are interested in the oracles, said archaeologist Yang Xizhang of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS).

Located in the city of Anyang, the Yin ruins are the remains of the oldest known capital city in the country. Yang says they are one of the 100 greatest archaeological discoveries in China in the past century.

Covering an area of 30 square kilometers, the capital included palaces, a burial ground, a civil residential quarter, a bronze-casting workshop and places of worship, Yang said.

More than 10,000 bronzes have also been discovered at the site. Simuwu Ding, a four-legged bronze cauldron, 133 centimeters high and weighing 875 kilograms, is the biggest bronze ever discovered in the world.

The tomb of China's first female general, Fuhao, who was also the wife of one of the emperors of the period, was also discovered in the ruins.

The largest dig ever conducted at the Yin ruins is now under way, said Wang Wei, vice director of CASS' archaeological institution.

"We will try to unveil the life of both aristocrats and the commoners so as to have a panoramic view of society at that time," Wang said.

A state-level cultural heritage, the Yin ruins were listed for special preservation in 1961.

Duan Zhenmei, head of the Anyang Bureau of Culture, said the local government had established display rooms for oracles within the Yin ruins protected zone. The tomb of Fuhao and 36 worship sites have been restored to resemble ancient scenes.

"A capital for 254 years, everything in the Yin ruins could have a story," said Duan. "We will go all-out to preserve the ruins and let people imagine the stories."

More than 560 characters inscribed on shells and bones, with annotations in modern Chinese and English, are displayed in the newly built 80-hectare Yin ruins park.

(Xinhua News Agency June 14, 2004)