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Latest excavations at a site of historical relics near the provincial capital of Sichuan province, southwest China, are likely to provide new clues for the re-writing of the ancient history of the region.

While excavating at the Jinsha ruins in Chengdu city's western suburban area which was launched early last year, local archaeologists have unearthed a total of some 3,000 items of rare antiques, such as gold, jade, bronze and stone wares and ivory pieces, In late August, they found two heaps of ivory and a stack of jade relics in only a few score square meters of the 500-sq m demarcated for the project.

More than 20 pieces of the ivory had their tips laid towards the south, implying a sacrificial ritual.

Among these jade relics, about 10 meters away from the ivory stacks, was a stack of jade relics in a space of some 1.5 sq. m. Much heed was attached to a priceless jade bi (or popularly known an ornament worn to indicate nobility) of a dinner-dish size and with a blue-pink blended color as well as with a red collar flange. With a diameter of 24 cm, the jade bi is believed to be one of the largest jade ornaments of the same historic period unearthed in China.

Initially excavated in April 2001, the Jinsha site is geographically and historically close to the Sanxingdui Ruins, which was listed among China's top 10 archaeological finds for the last 20th century and seen as a vivid symbol for ancient Sichuan cilvilization.

The high quality of the jade pieces and stoneware found during earlier excavations at Jinsha site indicate more affluence and more exquisite, skilled craftsmanship than in Sanxingdui area. The relics pre-dated earlier findings and showed the Chengdu Plain and Sichuan area were inhabited at least 3,000 years ago.

Local archaeologists began the present second round excavations in Jingsha, in late August this year.

In addition to the jade and ivory heaps, these excavations have also turned up the remains of graveled area arranged in two arcs and covering a total area of over 4,000 sq m. Inside it, an abundance of jade pieces, oracle bones and pottery were discovered.

To date, the site of Jinsha Ruins has been included in China's top 10 archaeological discoveries for 2001.