China's major archaeological finds in last five years (part 1)

China's major archaeological discoveries were selected from the list of significant archaeological finds announced by the State Administration of Cultural Heritage (SACH) from 2011 to 2016.

Each year, 10 significant finds are selected from a group of candidates that date from the Paleolithic era to the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911). The selection is organized by the Archaeological Society of China and China Culture Relics Newspaper, and supervised by the State Administration of Cultural Heritage.

These major archaeological discoveries cover a rich variety of sites, ranging from the cemetery, kiln, Buddhist remains, sunken ships, granary sites and mining sites, and some of them are relatively rare archaeological findings. These discoveries provide crucial information and bring new perspective to academic research.

The following selection of China's major archaeological discoveries is listed according to chronological order from the Paleolithic era to the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911).

An aerial photo of the Gantangqing Paleolithic sites in Jiangchuan county, Southwest China's Yunnan province. [File Photo]

Gantangqing Paleolithic sites in Yunnan province

An Early Pleistocene site in Jiangchuan, Southwest China's Yunnan province, has given archaeologists insight into the lives of people in the region millions of years ago.

More than 28 bone artifacts and over 10 wooden artifacts were found at the site. These may be the world's earliest wooden artifacts, dating back to one million years ago.

A relic that used fire was also found at the site. Firewood was put toward the center, which was heavily carbonized near the center section.

Besides, there were carbon deposits accumulated in the center. Fossils of seeds and bones of animals provided evidence of the diet of prehistoric people and how they foraged.

The finds are of special value and meaning for research in terms of human living patterns, origins and development under the ancient environment background. Meanwhile, the discovery, excavation and research of this site provide new evidence for the theory of local origins of ancient human beings in East Asia.

Gantangqing Paleolithic sites in Yunnan province were listed among China's top 10 archaeological discoveries in 2015.