Chinese archaeologists have excavated more than 20 inscribed wooden slips, confirmed as belonging to the Han Dynasty (BC 206- AD 220), in the Three Gorges Reservoir area in Chongqing Municipality.

The relics were discovered at the Jiuxianping ruins in Yunyang County in a pit 15 meters deep and 5.5 meters in diameter.

Four of the excavated slips are inscribed with a total of 50 Chinese characters. One of the four has characters for a specific date.

The Jiuxianping ruins cover over one million square meters and are one of the major relic sites listed in the Three Gorges area under the state protection plan.

Experts say that the discovery of the inscribed wooden slips will be of great significance in the study of the history and culture of the Three Gorges area.

( People's Daily February 18, 2002)