SHIJIAZHUANG, July 24 -- Many cultural relics have been found in the ruins of an village dating back to the Shang Dynasty (1600 BC-1046 BC) in north China's Hebei Province.

Ceramic fragments, ash pits and animal bones have been unearthed in the ruins in Zhaocun Village, Xingtai City, according to Geng Xiaoning, director of the local cultural relics protection station.

The ruins were discovered in 1980s. Archeologists began a rescue excavation at the site on Friday since the development and expansion of the village in recent years threatens the ruins.