Panchi, or pond, ruins, which usually occurred in front of a State-run school in ancient times, is unearthed around the Confucius Temple ruins in downtown Nantong. [Photo/ntjoy.com]

Archaeologists have unearthed more relics from the Confucius Temple ruins in Nantong, East China's Jiangsu province, local media reported on Dec 7.

Located in Nantong's downtown area, the temple was established in 1022 and has undergone several renovations and reestablishments. The remaining buildings include a Dacheng Hall, which is the main shrine area of any Confucius temple, and two ancestral halls.

To facilitate the construction of railways in Nantong, Zhenjiang Museum and Jinzhou Museum were invited to conduct an archaeological investigation around the Confucius Temple area in June.

Brick-paved road unearthed around the Confucius Temple ruins in downtown Nantong. [Photo/ntjoy.com]

These archaeologists have discovered two ashcans from the Song Dynasty (960-1279), as well as two brick roads, one brick gutterway, and one Panchi, or pond, ruins, which usually occurred in front of a State-run school in ancient times, from the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644).

Chinaware, ironware, and copper cash have also been unearthed during the archaeological investigation.

Currently, the brick structure remains from the Ming and Qing dynasties have been backfilled for protection.