Shanxi contributed two discoveries to China's vital new archaeological finds in 2016, the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences announced at an archaeology forum on Jan 10.

The selected discoveries are relics of the Buddha pavilion of the Northern Dynasty (AD 386-581) at Kaihua Temple on Mengshan Mountain in Taiyuan, and a kiln from the Song Dynasty (960-1279) and Jin Dynasty (1115-1234) at Guzhen village in Hejin county.

The Buddha pavilion, being the largest of its kind built during the Northern Dynasty (AD 386-581), is of great value in researching the development of ancient Buddhist architecture and Buddhism in China. The discovery of the kiln, with an area of 1,039 square meters, fills a gap in archaeological finds of porcelain making in ancient Shanxi.

There were a further 11 discoveries at the forum, including Shijiahe Neolithic Relics in Tianmen, Hubei province and a tomb from the Wei Dynasty (AD 220-265) at Xizhu village in Luoyang, Henan province.

An aerial view of the kiln from the Song Dynasty (960-1279) and Jin Dynasty (1115-1234) at Guzhen village in Hejin county [Photo/sxrb.com]