CHINESE experts have selected the country’s top 10 archeological finds of last year. The following are some of the highlights from the discoveries.

    Paleolithic sites in Guangdong

    More than 60 paleolithic sites discovered around Modaoshan Hill and the Nanjiang River Basin in the southern Guangdong Province show that the history of the region’s human activity dates back much further than people used to believe.

    Archaeologists collected hundreds of stone artifacts, including stone flakes and hammers, indicating ancient humans lived there as early as 600,000 to 800,000 years ago, compared with the previously believed 130,000 years ago.

    Dongzhao ruins in Zhengzhou, Henan

    Ruins of the ancient city of Dongzhao in Zhengzhou cover an area of 6,000 square meters. The ruins date back to the Xia Dynasty (2,100-1,600 B.C.), the first dynasty recorded in ancient China.

    Interestingly, relics from three ancient cities from different periods were found stacked on top of one another. A child’s bones were also found within the old city’s walls. Archaeologists believe the child may have been involved in ancient sacrificial rites.

    Guojiamiao tombs in Zaoyang, Hubei

    Archaeological workers found the country’s earliest man-made writing inkstick while excavating a high-ranking cemetery group dating around 2,500 years old in Zaoyang, Hubei.

    Several traditional Chinese musical instruments, the oldest of their kind, were also discovered. Among them was a se, a 25-string plucked instrument. They were unearthed in good condition at the Guojiamiao tomb group, which covers an area of 1.2 million square meters.

    Dabona cemetery

    in Xiangyun County, Yunnan

    Dating back more than 2,000 years, the tomb group provides a glance of the Kunming Kingdom, the most powerful local administration in Yunnan at that time.

    More than 280 pieces of artifacts made of bronze, iron, tin, ceramic, stone and wood, including weapons such as a sword and spear, were excavated. The site is important for understanding the bronze age culture around the Erhai Lake area.

    Early porcelain kiln site

    in Shaoxing, Zhejiang

    Nearly 200 kilns dating back 1,700 years, along with a large number of celadon porcelain artifacts, were unearthed. The kilns were built in the Eastern Han Dynasty (25-220), the Three Kingdoms period (220-265), and the Western Jin Dynasty (265-316).

    It is the first time Chinese archaeologists have discovered ancient kilns from different time periods at the same site. Tons of celadon, the signature Yue Kiln product, have been excavated from the site. The wares are of various shapes with high-quality glaze and demonstrate exquisite artisanship.

    Cemeteries in Ngari,Tibet

    The excavations of the Gurugyam Cemetery and Chuvthag Cemetery in Ngari, Tibet revealed the mystery of the Zhangzhung Kingdom in West Tibet that dates back 2,000 years. The burials yielded silk, golden death masks, gilt bronzes, silver, iron, pottery, beads and massive amounts of human and animal bones.

    The two cemeteries belong to the Zhangzhung culture, which extends throughout the Himalayas. The finds show a possible trade route linking Tibet with other parts of China. According to the findings, 1,800 years ago, people in the Zhangzhung Kingdom had already begun to drink tea and raise cattle.

    Yihenaoer Cemetery in Inner Mongolia

    About 1,500 years old, the tomb group provides evidence of cultural exchange and trade on the ancient grassland Silk Road, extending from Inner Mongolia to Europe via central and western Asia. Unearthed artifacts such as gold necklaces and glass bowls exhibited cultural features from countries around the Mediterranean Sea.

    Granaries in Junxian, Henan

    The Huiluo Granary and the Liyang Granary are two different types of State granaries that were along the Grand Canal during the Sui Dynasty (581-618). The excavation of them supported the waterway’s successful World Heritage listing. It is believed the site once had hundreds of storage pits. A standard pit was about 10 meters in diameter and seven to nine meters in depth.

    Ancient iron mining sites near Yanqing, Beijing

    The mining sites at Dazhuangke consist of iron ore quarries, furnaces, workshops and residential sites. Ten iron-smelting furnaces were unearthed. The sites are the largest well-preserved mining area from the Liao Dynasty (916 to 1125).

    Luxurious chieftain tomb

    in Zunyi, Guizhou

    Three tombs were unearthed at Bozhou Chieftain Yang’s family cemetery. A tomb belonging to the 14th chieftain Yang Jia and his wife yielded nearly 100 gold and silver artifacts, including gold cups and plates. Even some of their coffin nails were made of gold and silver.(Xinhua)