Latest News:  

English>>Life & Culture

5,000-yr-old carvings may be oldest Chinese

By Hou Liqiang  (Chinadaily.com.cn)

13:41, July 10, 2013

The carvings found in ruins in Pinghu, Zhejiang province. [Photo/Xinhua]

Experts believe carved symbols found on stone implements and crockery in Zhejiang province date back more than 5,000 years, marking the oldest written Chinese language, Guangming Daily reported.

The carvings were found in ruins in Pinghu, Zhejiang province during 2003 to 2006. The archaeologists found more than 240 stone pieces with carved symbols in the archaeological excavations.

On Saturday, ancient writing experts from across China gathered to research the carvings, and they believed the symbols were Chinese.

The carved symbols are not isolated characters but form complete sentences, said Li Boqian, professor of the School of Archaeology and Museology at Peiking University.

Before the finding, the oldest writings in China were believed to be the Jiaguwen, or "oracle bone script", which date back 3,600 years.

We recommend:

Most beautiful boulevards around world

A cruise on Mariner of the Seas

Fantastic Beijing - The Imperial Palace

Stunning views in deep sea

Enshi Tusi Imperial City in China

Most popular actresses in Taiwan

"Tiny Times" cast pose for Fashion Weekly

Top 10 most dangerous roads in the world

Fans at Confederations Cup Brazil 2013

Email|Print|Comments(Editor:LiXiang、Ye Xin)

Related Reading

Leave your comment0 comments

  1. Name

  

Selections for you


  1. Chinese,Russian naval forces leave for drill

  2. China-Russia joint drill enters 2nd day

  3. Iranian female ninjas show combat skills

  4. Children's hospital full of patients

  5. Pushy parents turn matchmaking events

  6. China's weekly story
    (2013.6.28-7.5)

  7. Top 20 most popular supermodels

  8. Rolex Ilhabela Sailing Week kicks off in Brazil

  9. Born to lead: 2nd gen of Chinese tycoons

  10. China's inflation grows 2.7% in June

Most Popular

Opinions

  1. China, U.S. discuss cyber security
  2. Why we are obsessed with selfies?
  3. Israel keen on luring Chinese tourists
  4. 'Bernanke shock' necessary
  5. Safety first for baby formula
  6. Defense paper shows Tokyo's hysteria
  7. Shanghai investor sentiment drops
  8. Graduates need more help to start business
  9. CPC is thriving
  10. S&ED serves as 1st major step to build Sino-US ties

What’s happening in China

Wall collapse kills 12, injures 7 in N China

  1. Newborns' weight leads caesarian births rise
  2. New system adopted for fairer access to organs
  3. Hospitals to stop taking cut of drug sales
  4. Jobs as chengguan hold allure in Beijing
  5. Mayor apologizes for S China river pollution