The history of Chinese pottery- making may date back as far as 9,000 years, rather than the 8,000 years as Chinese archaeologists formerly believed.

Researchers with the archeological department in Beijing University used carbon dating tests to determine that the 921 pottery items excavated from Zhenpiyan Ruins belonging to the Neolithic Age (10,000 to 4,000 years ago) are the country's oldest examples of pottery.

The site is located in southwest China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. Prior to this, pottery relics from the Peiligang Ruins in Henan Province of central China were believed to be the earliest.

The find has stirred up debate among the archeological circle in China, because many believe that Chinese pottery originated in the country's culturally-advanced central region.

The Zhenpiyan pottery includes sculptured figures with strong aboriginal features. The thickest clay figurine measures 2.5 centimeters and the thinnest 0.3 centimeters.

To prevent the clay from cracking during firing, ancient Chinese blended in quartz particles for added strength, according to Tan Fasheng, a local archeologist.

In the city of Guilin, in the far southwestern region of the country, where the Zhenpiyan Ruins are located, only a few primitive human records have been verified.

However, archeological research in the southern region of China in recent years has come to suggest that the cultural development level there was far beyond current experts' realization.

Four large kiln workshop relics dating back 2,500 years were recently unearthed in south China's Guangdong Province. They occupy a total floor space of 100,000 sq.m. and the roofs were built of tiles, which was the earliest use of the material in construction found in the region.

A large assortment of bronze weapons and pottery dug out from the kilns show a relatively high pottery-making craft. They are of important archeological value in the study of production standards and human society in southern China during the Spring and Autumn and the Warring States periods. (Xinhua)