Multiple grain storage pits dating back more than 4,000 years were discovered in northwest China's Shaanxi Province, which offer fresh evidence for the study of early civilization in that area, according to archaeologists.
The pits were found at the Luojiahe cultural relic site in Chunhua County, Xianyang City, where archaeologists from the Xianyang Cultural Heritage Institute conducted excavations between March 2022 and Sept 2025.
By analyzing the features of the unearthed relics and artifacts with scientific methods, the team concluded that the site likely dates back approximately 4,800 to 4,200 years.
Preliminary surveys and explorations confirmed that the site covers a total area of 50,000 square meters, with the excavation area, located at the site's central zone, spanning approximately 14,200 square meters.
A total of 17 grain storage pits were unearthed at the site, all circular or oval and bag-shaped. Four of the pits contained carbonized grains of millet and other crops, along with preserved plant stems, indicating that they were once used for grain storage.
"We have collected over 1,000 samples and obtained over 800 carbonized plant samples, mainly millet and glutinous millet, in addition to rice and soybeans. The storage methods used are storing with ears intact, storing after threshing, and storing after husking," said Xie Gaowen, a research fellow from the Xianyang Cultural Heritage Institute.
There are remnants of woven crop straw in some pits, with the weaving technique closely resembling the patterns used in grain bundling.
"This is something we haven't discovered before when excavating sites from this period. It proves that this was a method for storing ears of grain at that time, using straw to make something akin to rope to tie up the crops," said Xie.
Prehistoric grain storage pits discovered in northwest China
Prehistoric grain storage pits discovered in northwest China
The death toll from ongoing Israeli attacks on Lebanon has risen to 634, including 91 children and 47 women, while 1,586 people have been wounded, Lebanese Health Minister Rakan Nasreddine said at a televised press briefing on Wednesday.
According to Nasreddine, the ongoing hostilities have also severely affected the health sector. He reported 22 attacks on medical facilities and services, including incidents targeting Red Cross ambulances.
The minister added that 15 health workers have been killed and 45 others wounded since the escalation began.
Meanwhile, the conflict has displaced 816,000 Lebanese, according to figures announced by Minister of Social Affairs Haneen Sayed at the same press briefing.
Sayed said that 816,000 people have registered on the ministry's relief platform as displaced. Of them, about 126,000 people are currently sheltering in 589 designated centers across the country.
Sayed added that the government is working on the ground to guide displaced families to available centers and arrange transportation to ensure they reach safe locations.
At least 17 people were injured in Israeli airstrikes targeting multiple areas in Beirut's southern suburbs, Lebanon's Health Ministry reported Wednesday.
In retaliation, Hezbollah started the "Al-Asf Al-Ma'koul" operations, launching rockets intensively toward northern Israel, according to Lebanon's National News Agency.
The group said it launched rocket salvos at multiple Israeli military sites, including the Northern Command headquarters at the Dado base, the Ein Zeitim base, and targets near Safed, Kiryat Shmona, Nahariyya, Haifa, and Lake Tiberias.
Meanwhile, the Israeli military said it began a "large-scale attack wave of strikes" on Beirut's southern suburb on Wednesday night in response to Hezbollah's rocket launches.
On March 2, Hezbollah announced the launch of rockets from Lebanon toward Israel for the first time since a ceasefire was declared on Nov 27, 2024.
Meanwhile, the Israeli army launched what it described as an "offensive military campaign" against Hezbollah, carrying out intense airstrikes on multiple Lebanese areas and border ground incursions.
Death toll from Israeli attacks in Lebanon rises to 634
