Archaeological findings prove that civilization existed in Shenzhen, now a coastal boomtown in south China's Guangdong Province, as early as 3,500 years ago.

Chinese archaeological workers discovered 94 ancient graves belonging to the Shang Dynasty (circa 16th Century B.C.-11th Century B.C.) and 300 precious cultural relics of different kinds while excavating Wubeiling Ruins at Nanshan from April to June 2001 and from December 2001 to March 2002.

Cultural relics unearthed from the ancient graves include jade articles, stone implements, pottery, as well as bronze tools for production.

They were recently selected as one of China's ten major archaeological finds of 2001.

The ruins fall within Shenzhen's planned town for universities, said a local official in charge of the administration of cultural relics, who also added they were considering building a museum based on the ruins.

China's reform and opening-up has turned Shenzhen into an economic powerhouse. However, Guangdong, naturally including Shenzhen, has long been considered as a cultural desert.

Observers believe that the archaeological finds help enrich the culture of this southern Chinese city of economic success.

(Xinhua News Agency May 4, 2002)