XI'AN, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- A China-Kazakhstan joint archeological research has gradually unveiled the ruins of a city on the ancient Silk Road.
The Shaanxi Provincial Archeological Research Institute in northwest China said that its cooperation with the Issyk State Historical-Cultural Museum in Kazakhstan on the excavation of the ancient city of Rahat entered its third phase in 2019.
Ding Yan, a researcher of the institute, who participated in the cross-border archeological program, said they excavated 980 square meters and surveyed 500,000 square meters of the Rahat site in 2019.
Relics from the ruins date back between 2,400 years ago and 1,400 years ago. The ancient civilization once thrived on the Silk Road at the northern foot of the Tianshan Mountains in Kazakhstan.
Ding said they excavated one house, 23 pits and four tombs and unearthed 70 pieces of iron, pottery and bone items. The house is of semi-crypt-type, with a slope doorway and a stove pit.
