Bicun site in Xingxian county, Lyuliang city [Photo/Shanxi Daily] 

Two projects in North China's Shanxi province – Bicun site in Xingxian county and Xiwubi site in Jiangxian county – were shortlisted for the recently launched preliminary evaluation of the top 10 new archaeological discoveries in China in 2022. 

The Stone City Defense System at the Bicun site, which covers an area of about 750,000 square meters and dates back to the late Longshan period 4,200 to 3,800 years ago, is an important relic for understanding the layout of prehistoric and pre-Qin Dynasty (221-206 BC) city gates in China. 

Earthenware from Xiwubi site in Jiangxian county, Shanxi province. [Photo provided to China Daily]

The Xiwubi site contains the remains of various dynasties and features copper smelting relics from the Erlitou culture (c. 19th century-17th/16th centuries BC) and the Erligang period (c. 17th/16th centuries-14th century BC). It provides valuable materials for studying the origin of the burial system of the Shang Dynasty (c.16th century-11th century BC).