An ancient pottery kiln site discovered in Daishan county, Zhoushan, East China's Zhejiang province. [Photo/WeChat account: zjzsrbs] 

An ancient pottery kiln site dating back to the New Stone Age has been discovered in Daishan county, Zhoushan, East China's Zhejiang province, the Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology of Zhejiang Province announced on March 22.

The 3,000-square-meter site, which was named Yaojiawan site, is the first pottery kiln site of its kind in the province.

Archaeologists have also discovered kiln relics within the site. The relics are believed to date back more than 4,000 years.

The discovery suggests that people living in Zhoushan during the prehistoric era had mastered the sophisticated ceramic kiln firing techniques.

Archaeologists also discovered more than 30 ancient relics that will be of great significance to the study of the area's prehistoric marine civilization.

In addition, archaeologists found rice grains that provide new insights into the production style and food sources at that time.

New discoveries at the Yaojiawan site mark a major milestone in Zhoushan's archaeology endeavors.