Archaeological findings provide key proof of Chinese civilization origin

The central residential area with four rows of houses was found in the northern part of the inner ring moat. Meanwhile, three public cemeteries with more than 1,700 tombs, three sacrificial remains, an astronomical relic, a pottery workshop area, a water storage area, a road system and other facilities were also discovered at the city ruins.

At the astronomical relic, nine pottery pots were arranged in the pattern of the nine stars of the Big Dipper. Experts said the relic indicates that the ancestors of Heluo had relative mature astronomical knowledge to guide agricultural activities by observing the celestial phenomena.

Among the unearthed relics, a boar tusk carving of a silkworm, 6.4 cm long, nearly 1 cm wide and 0.1 cm thick, was believed to be China's earliest carving depicting silkworms. Experts say that the carving depicts a spinning silkworm which is quite similar to modern silkworms in appearance.