Relics discovered at the Neolithic ruins at Taoyuan, a village in the city of Linfen, Shanxi province. (Photo Provided to China Daily)
Archaeologists have found ruins of a pentagonal structure believed to have been a tribal meeting hall or a leader's office from 6,000 years ago, authorities in North China's Shanxi province said Monday. The semi-subterranean house, discovered at the Neolithic ruins at Taoyuan, a village in the city of Linfen, covered a total area of 90 square meters, with surviving walls reaching a maximum of 50 cm, said Xue Xinming, a researcher with Shanxi provincial institute of archaeology. The walls were painted with a mixture of grass and mud inside, and several holes were also found where wooden pillars were located to support the house and walls, said Xue. A cylinder-shaped fireplace was also found underground in the house, which ancient people used for heating, cooking and lighting.
