Research suggests remains at Yin ruins were captives

The bodies buried at the Ruins of Yin, one of China's oldest archaeological sites, were captives from ethnic minority groups, rather than slaves, said an archaeologist in Central China's Henan province.

The finding may help change the notion that the Shang Dynasty (c. 16th century-11th century BC), China's first recorded dynasty, was a slave society, according to Tang Jigen, head of the Anyang research branch of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.

Named after the last capital of Shang, the Ruins of Yin were famous for the discovery of oracle bones and script.