Prehistoric grain storage pits provide new evidence for study of early civilization in northwest China

A group of prehistoric grain storage pits discovered in northwest China's Shaanxi Province have provided important physical evidence for the study of early civilization and the origin of states 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 September 2025.

By analyzing the distribution and features of the unearthed relics and artifacts and applying scientific methods, the team concluded that the site likely dates back approximately 4,800 to 4,200 years and is a specialized settlement centered on grain storage.

Archaeologists said that no tombs of the same period were found in the site and its surrounding areas, which might indicate that people at that time didn't reside there but mainly to guard food.

"This proves that class differentiation and distinct administrative tiers had already emerged in society at that time, along with specialized grain reserve bases. For a certain large settlement, a grain depot was established here, and the primary purpose of the people living here was to take care of the grain depot," said Xie Gaowen, a research librarian from the Xianyang Cultural Heritage Institute.

Based on the size of the 17 identified granary remains, archaeologists calculated that the total volume was approximately 390 cubic meters, with an estimated capacity to store up to 300 tons of millet.

Experts analyzed that the reason for choosing this location as a grain reserve base might be related to the geographical environment.

"The reason why the ancient ancestors stored grain in this place is likely because they had realized the importance of geographical location. This site is surrounded by water on three sides, with a plateau on the remaining side, making it easy to defend and hard to attack. Furthermore, they used the water channel to transport grain, then manage it centrally before redistributing the grain," Xie said.

In addition, a large number of bones, horns and shell objects have been unearthed from the Luojiahe Site, including bones of 18 kinds of animals.

Results of zooarchaeological research show that these remains come from over 80 archaeological spots and stratigraphic layers. The identifiable animals cover 18 species in four classes, including aquatic animals, deer animals and domesticated animals.

Through analysis of the animal population, the environment around the site at that time is expected be reconstructed, according to experts.

Prehistoric grain storage pits provide new evidence for study of early civilization in northwest China

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠China's natural gas production is projected to reach 300 billion cubic meters by 2030, according to a development report released in Beijing.

The report, covering the development of China's oil and gas industry during the country's 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021–2025), said proven geological reserves rose by 7 billion tons of oil and 7 trillion cubic meters of gas, up 43 percent and 40 percent respectively from the previous five-year period. Oil and gas production hit record highs.

"The oil output is likely to reach between 215 and 216 million tons this year. Natural gas has seen major growth during the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021–2025), with annual domestic output rising by nearly 13 billion cubic meters. In the 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026-2030), we expect annual increases of more than 10 billion cubic meters, reaching 300 billion cubic meters around 2030," said Wu Mouyuan, deputy director of the Economics and Technology Research Institute of China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC).

The report forecast that China's energy structure will feature less coal, stable oil and gas, and rising non-fossil fuels over the next decade.

By 2060, fossil fuels are expected to account for 23 percent of the energy mix, hydropower and nuclear 19 percent, wind 25 percent, and solar 30 percent, the report said.

"In the next five years, through the integrated development of fossil energy and renewables, we will achieve a heathy, stable, and resilient energy system. Clean energy will continue to grow rapidly. More than 90 percent of renewable energy will be consumed via electricity, so the electrification at end-use sectors is a key direction of transformation in the future," said Wu.

With the rapid growth of artificial intelligence and new high-energy industries, China's power demand will exceed 20 trillion kilowatt hours by 2060, double the 2025 level. Electrification at end-use sectors is expected to reach 62 percent, rising by nearly one percentage point annually, the report projected.

China to see gas output hitting 300 bcm by 2030: report