Prehistoric pottery kiln found in 4,000-year-old ruins

Archaeologists in North China's Inner Mongolia autonomous region have found a prehistoric pottery kiln at a ruins site dating back around 4,000 years, according to local authorities.

The regional institute of cultural relics and archaeology said it has cooperated with the cultural authorities in Ningcheng county to carry out a rescue excavation of the ruins site, with over 40 houses, 33 pits and ash pits, six tombs and one pottery kiln unearthed.

"Judging from the clay, the pottery-making tools and the pottery kiln, we think there was a whole-process pottery-making operation at the site," said Lian Jilin, a researcher at the institute.

More than 750 specimens of pottery, stone tools, bronzes and other artifacts, as well as many animal bones have also been unearthed at the site.