This undated file photo shows a cooking vessel unearthed at the Luojiahe cultural relic site in Chunhua County, Xianyang City, northwest China's Shaanxi province. Multiple grain storage pits dating back more than 4,000 years were discovered in northwest China's Shaanxi province, which offer fresh evidence for the study of early civilization in that area, according to archaeologists.

The pits were found at the Luojiahe cultural relic site in Chunhua County, Xianyang City, where archaeologists from the Xianyang Cultural Heritage Institute conducted excavations between March 2022 and September 2025.

By analyzing the features of the unearthed relics and artifacts and applying scientific methods, the team concluded that the site likely dates back approximately 4,800 to 4,200 years, said Xie Gaowen from the institute. [Photo/Xianyang Cultural Heritage Institute handout via Xinhua]