500-year-old stone carving found in North China

SHIJIAZHUANG - Archaeologists have recently discovered a stone carving dating back more than 500 years in northern China's Hebei province.

The carving was found in Neiqiu County during a recent archaeological survey, the county's publicity department said on Saturday.

According to the inscription, the carving was made in 1512 during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644).

"We can see from the inscription that local administrative structure was rather complete at that time, with civil officials classified clearly based on their jobs," said Li Hengkun, a local expert on culture and history.

The findings provide important basis for the study of local history and administrative structure during the Ming dynasty, he added.