The largest ancient bronze vase ever found,dating back to the 11th century B.C.,has been discovered by a child on a riverside in Ningxiang County in central China's Hunan province.

The vase,61cm in height,60cm in diameter at its mouth and 88cm in the middle,was found by a unidentified child on the sandy riverside along the Weishui River in Huangcai Township.

Experts with the Hunan Provincial Institute of Archeology believe the bronze vase was made in the late Shang Dynasty (approximately 16th century B.C.to 11th century B.C.)and early Zhou Dynasty (About 11th century B.C.to 771B.C.).

Markings of animals were engraved all over the vase with eight representing dragons on its shoulders.

The location where the vase was found is less than one kilometer from the Tanheli relics site,where a large number of bronze vases dating back to Shang Dynasty have been unearthed.

He Jiejun,an archeologist with the institute,said the vase,which is classified as a small jar,was used as a drinking vessel during the two dynasties.

(Eastday.com.cn 07/02/2001)