Ancient jade ware discovered in Hubei

WUHAN - Archeologists have recently discovered jade ware that dates back over 4,000 years at a site in Central China's Hubei province, local authorities said Monday.

Jade battle-axes, an astronomical instrument and a tube, dating back to between 4,600 to 5,100 years ago, have been unearthed at the Mulintou site in Baokang county.

Besides jade ware, other items including human skeletons, stoneware and pottery have also been found at the site.

"A jade battle-axe was considered as a symbol of power. The astronomical instrument also indicated owners of the tombs were high-level people," said archeologist team leader Da Haobo.

Fang Qin, curator of the provincial museum, said that the new findings are crucial for the study of the funeral customs of the Qujialing culture, a late Neolithic culture discovered in the middle reaches of the Yangtze River.