HANGZHOU, June 19 (Xinhua) -- Archaeologists in east China's Zhejiang Province have verified a Neolithic jade workshop complex dating back 4,500 to 4,800 years, according to the Zhejiang Provincial Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology.

The complex in Deqing County was named Zhongchuming site. It is about 18 kilometers away from the Liangzhu ruins, which have gained world recognition as a testimony to at least 5,000 years of Chinese civilization.

It is the largest discovered jade workshop complex from the Liangzhu culture, best known for its exquisite jade carvings.

Between 2017 to 2019, archaeologists discovered about 3,000 pieces of jade materials and semi-finished jade wares at the Zhongchuming site. Jade processing tools, such as whetstones, were also found at the site.

"The Zhongchuming site provides abundant information on the social structure, settlement pattern and handicraft industry in the late Liangzhu culture," said Fang Xiangming, deputy director of the institute. Enditem