Ancient relics unearthed in E. China

Archaeologists in east China's Zhejiang Province unearthed 708 cultural relics from a cluster of tombs dating back to the Shang and Zhou dynasties as of the end of last year, sources with the provincial archaeological institution said Thursday.

Located in the Xiaoshan district of the provincial capital of Hangzhou, the tombs were found last March when evidence of graverobbers led local authorities to the tombs.

The relics retrieved from the 45 tombs include pottery and porcelain, according to Shi Jianong, curator of Xiaoshan Museum in Hangzhou.

The relics will provide vital research material for scientists who are studying the origin and craftsmanship of ancient Chinese porcelain, Shi said.

The tombs will also play an important role in research concerning funeral customs from the Shang and Zhou dynasties, Shi said.