Archeologists unearth whole ancient village in N. China

An ancient village, apparently buried in an earthquake or flood nearly 700 years ago, has been unearthed in north China's Hebei Province.

Archeologists from Hebei Cultural Relics Research Institute said the historic village, located near Liumengchun Village in Cangzhou, may have flourished in the Song Dynasty (960-1279) and the Yuan Dynasty (1279-1368).

Copper money from the Song and Yuan, as well as the remains of some pottery vases, bowls, plates and jars, were found at the site,which experts think may have once been a booming commercial center.

Archeologists began an excavation in the area in mid-April, before a highway is built nearby. They found cultural deposits belonging to the Song, Yuan and Jin dynasties in 20 pits distributed over a 500-square-meter area.

No human remains were found from after the Yuan Dynasty. Historical records say the area suffered four floods and one earthquake at the end of Yuan. Archeologists believe the village was ruined in one of the natural disasters.