Two prehistoric city sites have been discovered at the Puchengdian ruins in central China's Henan Province, and one of them was confirmed by archeologists to be more than 4,000 years old and belong to the Longshan culture or late Neolithic cultures (3000 BC- 1700 BC).

The older city covers an area of more than 16,000 square meters, with the east, west and south walls still existing.

A well-preserved 5,000-year-old pottery kiln was unearthed in the relic city site, which comprised a kiln chamber, fireplace, workshop and ash pit. Archaeologists referred this to the first time such an ancient and well-preserved kiln was found in China.

Archaeologists acknowledged that the discovery of the primordial city offers rare material evidence for people to study living habits and social organizations of the ancient society.

With the approval of the State Administration of Cultural Heritage, the Henan Province and the Pingdingshan city launched a large-scale archaeological excavation at the Puchengdian ruins beginning in July this year.

During the months of excavation, more than 400 pieces of relics from the Neolithic age and dynasties of Xia (c. 2100 BC-1600 BC), Shang (1600 BC-1100 BC), Zhou (1100 BC-771 BC), Han (206 BC-220 AD)and Song (960-1279 AD) were discovered at the site. About 300 pieces have been unearthed, including rare, valuable articles made of pottery, bronzes, stones, born and mussel.

Archaeologists said a large number of house foundations of the Xia Dynasty were also unearthed.

The Puchengdian ruins had been designated as the first group provincial-level cultural relic protection units of Henan in 1963.With an area of 150,000 sq m, the site contains relics of the Neolithic age and the Xia, Shang, Zhou and Han dynasties.

Currently, the government has made plans to better protect the site. The excavation work at the site was completed last month.
 
(Xinhua News Agency November 3, 2004)