Ancient rock drawings unearthed in northern China

With the help of local herdsmen, a huge cluster of ancient rock drawings has been unearthed in northern Chinas Inner Mongolian Autonomous Region.

New Delhi, April 28 : With the help of local herdsmen, a huge cluster of ancient rock drawings has been unearthed in northern China's Inner Mongolian Autonomous Region.

Over one thousand drawings from the Bronze Era were discovered about 55 kilometers west of Hailiutu county, reports CCTV International.

Most of the pictures are carved on black granite along the mountainsides and they stretch about five kilometers into a valley near the Bayinhudu mountain.

The pictures are based mainly on daily life and involve a wide variety of subjects such as goats, longhorn-deer and dogs.

Some drawings depict hunting scenes and mysterious symbols while some single pieces contain dozens of patterns.

One picture shows a deer hunt, in an elaborate work rarely found among ancient rock paintings in China.

Liu Bin, the curator of the local Wulatezhong qi museum, said that the drawings date back to about 3000 years ago, which means they belong to the Bronze Era.

Undoubtedly, the discovery will provide a great deal of knowledge about the lives of ancient herdsmen, Bin added.

ANI