Chinese archaeologists have discovered the ruins of an ancient workshop dating back 6,000 years that processed jade and other stone objects. The ruins are located in Tonglu county in Zhejiang province (eastern coastal China). It is the first workshop for jade and stone processing ever found in China, experts with the Zhejiang Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology said.
     Inside the prehistoric site, piles of stone slices and many primitive tools were found. Twenty jade rings each with an external diameter of three to four centimetres were also found. The find is of great significance for studies on ancient processes to produce stone and jade articles, as well as exchange and transactions in primitive society, the experts said.

Edited from New Kerala (27 December 2010)