NANJING, Dec. 1 (Xinhua) -- An ancient coin hoard containing 1.5 tonnes of coins dating back to the Tang (618-907) and Song (960-1279) dynasties has been discovered in east China's Jiangsu Province. The underground remains were unearthed in Shuangdun Village, Jianhu County of Yancheng City. The pit mouth of the hoard was square, 1.63 meters long, 1.58 meters wide, and 0.5 meters deep. Bronze coins connected in series with straw ropes were neatly layered and paved inside. Most were from the Song Dynasty.
The uncovered coins were well-preserved, and most of them had clear inscriptions, suggesting important value for further research.
In ancient China, such hoards were often buried in the ground so as to preserve precious porcelain, coins, metal tools, and other valuables, said the researchers.
Seventy wells were also found around the coin hoard, which was near the battle frontline of the Song and Jin troops, making the researchers wonder whether the excavation site belonged to a hutted camp.
Ancient Artifacts Unearthed In Southwest China
CHONGQING, Dec. 1 (Xinhua) -- Archaeologists have unearthed 53 sites of ancient cultural remains and 278 relics during an evacuation project in southwest China's Chongqing Municipality from April to October.
The artifacts were believed to date back as early as the Eastern Zhou Dynasty (770 B.C.-256 B.C.) in a historic site that covers about 1,000 square meters at the lower reaches of Jialing River, a tributary of the Yangtze River, in Chongqing, said the municipal institute of archaeology.
The six-month project completed 675 square meters of the total and found a large number of relics, including pits, tombs, pottery, porcelain, stoneware, and copper coins, spanning from the Eastern Zhou Dynasty to the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911).
"A batch of remains from the Spring and Autumn Period (770-476 BC) was also found at the site, which is very rare and of high value for the ancient cultural study along the tributaries of the Yangtze River," according to the head of the project.