Archaeologists find ancient fishing ruins in Northeast China

CHANGCHUN -- Archaeologists said Sunday that they have unearthed the remains of ancient houses and ash pits, together with animal bones, bronze ware and stone tools in Northeast China's Jilin province.

The Bronze Age finds were discovered on a sand dune near Dajinshan village in the city of Shuangliao, according to the School of Archaeology affiliated with the Jilin University.

Fang Qi, the archaeologist who headed the excavation, said researchers speculate that the ruins might serve as evidence of a living and fishing place for ancient people near the Eastern Liaohe River based on large quantities of unearthed life utensils, animal bones, fishbones, mussels and shellfish.

The ruins are around 150 meters long and 100 meters wide. Jointly launched by researchers from countries including China, France and the US, the ongoing excavation started in July and is covering around 1,000 square meters.

After the excavation is completed, the archaeologists will send 20 carbon samples to the University of Oxford for more precise age testing.

"The new discovery will shed some light on the living and working conditions of ancient people along the Eastern Liaohe River basin, and enrich people's understanding of ancient life in the region," Fang said.