Chinese archaeologists have unearthed the largest jade dragon ever discovered from the Hongshan culture, an important part of the Neolithic era, at a stone tomb site in Chifeng, a city in north China’s Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, according to the regional institute of cultural relics and archaeology.
Measuring 15.8 cm long, 9.5 cm wide and 3 cm thick, the object was discovered at a site comprising a circular tomb to the north and a square altar to the south, which is the only one of its type ever found in the region.
In addition to the architectural remains, human skeletal remains, burials, fire pits and pits with cylindrical objects have also been discovered at the site. The excavated objects include jade and painted pottery basins, as well as pottery tripod cups.
Ongoing research at the site includes ancient environmental studies, large-scale topographic mapping, and carbon-14 dating, among others. The latest dating data indicate that the site belongs to the late Hongshan culture period, dating back to 5,100 to 5,000 years ago.
The findings were revealed at a thematic seminar held in Chifeng on Sunday, which took stock of archaeological progress at the Yuanbaoshan Stone Tomb in Aohan Banner, Chifeng.
