Ancient tombs discovered in Xinjiang's Bayinbuluke grasslands. (Photo/CNS)

Aerial image of sun altar ruins found in Xinjiang. (Photo/CNS)

Unprecedentedly large and complete Bronze Age sun altar ruins were recently discovered in Xinjiang, in the Bayinbuluke grasslands.

Wu Xinhua, the leader of the expedition that found the ruins, said that the central site within the ruins was a huge conical entity built from a mix of pebbles and mud in the earliest period. Now the pit has collapsed, and two stone fences have been built around the periphery. The diameter of the outer fence is 114 meters.

Through scientific verification, archaeological experts have agreed that the sun altar was built in the late Bronze Age or even earlier, making it approximately 2,500-3,000 years old. These ruins are by far the largest and most complete from the Bronze Age found in the area.

Wu also said the discovery of the site proves that there was a sizeable population of nomads living in the Bayinbuluke grasslands around 3,000 years ago. The population may have reached over 10,000.

Li Jun, deputy director of the Xinjiang Cultural Relics Bureau, said that finding such a cultural relic in Xinjiang, the likes of which have only been found previously in Central Asia, helps to confirm that the Silk Road has been promoting peaceful inter-regional communication since ancient times.