(Source: CGTN)

Thanks to updated technologies, some exciting new discoveries have been made in China. The country's top ten archaeological finds of 2016 were unveiled earlier this week in Beijing. Last year witnessed several major discoveries, with the earliest relics dating back to five thousand years ago.  

The official list of archaeological discoveries for last year includes ancient town sites and tombs in Ningxia, Beijing, Shanxi, as well as kiln sites in south China's Shanghai, Zhejiang and Hunan provinces. Experts say modern technologies contributed to the discoveries, which will provide new sources for the study of Chinese history.

"Many modern technologies such as three-dimensional laser scanning have been applied to the archaeological works. This helped us make some new discoveries in Zhejiang and Fujian provinces last year. New technologies also been used to preserve the unearthed relics," said Qin Dashu, archaeology professor, Peking University.

Thanks to the extensive use of new technologies, archaeologists made many discoveries in some previous archaeological projects. New unearthed relics in the Hubei Tianmen Shijia River site proves people were living in the area for over 5-thousand years.

New sources in Shanghai on China's ancient Maritime Silk Road

China frequently engaged in archaeological cooperation and cultural exchanges with foreign countries in recent years. China's top ten archaeological finds of 2016 provides new sources to the study of the country's ancient Maritime Silk Road. One discovery proves Shanghai QinglongTown was one of the most important seaports for foreign trade during the Tang and Song dynasties.

"Historical records shows Qinglong Town was the main port for the trade between China, Japan and South Korea. The porcelains found in Qinglong Town site are very similar to the finds in Japan and the Korean Peninsula. This helps us learn more about China-foreign trade system of the past," Qin Dashu said.

It is said over 6-thousand porcelain pieces made in the ancient kilns of south China have been discovered in Shanghai Qinglong Town site.