Buddhist sites discovered in Xinjiang

Urumqi (CNS) – Local authorities in Luopu County, Hotan City of Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region announced that recently archeologists discovered two new Buddhist sites there.

The Xinjiang Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology have been conducting an exploration of the Akispil Ruins, reamins of an ancient city established in the 2nd century BC and located just 54 kilometers away from Hotan City. They found nine kilns, two Buddhist sites, tombs, evidence of ancient agricultural activity and other remains during their investigation of this six square kilometers zone.

The two Buddhist sites are a temple and a pagoda located in the northeast of the ancient city. Pottery fragments, saddle-shaped stone grinding discs, jade pieces, iron arrows, armor and so forth are scattered on land's surface.

Tracing the artifacts led to the conclusion that the Buddhism sites likely existed in a period covered by the Han Dynasty up to the Southern and Northern Dynasties, ranging from 206 B.C. to 589 A.D.