Archaeologists in China found a 4,500-year-old ritual weapon (photo)

In China, archaeologists have found a rather rare stone relic - a ritual weapon in the form of an ax that was used in ancient China. It has engraved images of tigers.

According to the Xinhua news agency, this weapon was found in the city of Wuxi in Jiangsu province in eastern China. It was made about 4,500 years ago, during the Liangzhu culture.

Archaeologists date the influential Liangzhu culture to the period between 3300 and 2250 BC. It is noted that the huge settlement located south of the Yangtze River was named Liangzhu after the modern site where evidence of this culture was first discovered at the beginning of the 20th century.

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The 4,500-year-old stone relic, carved on both sides with images of tigers and patterns of clouds and birds, surprised archaeologists, according to a statement from archaeologists. 16 archaeologists from the country and abroad said that they have seen for the first time a stone relic with the image of a tiger, which they believe is a symbol of power.

The scientists noted that the patterns have single, relatively straight lines, and the ax found on the sacrificial platform shows signs of wear and damage.

The archaeological ruins of Liangzhu reveal an early regional state with rice cultivation as the economic basis, social differentiation, and unified belief system that existed during the Late Neolithic period in China.

Recently, archaeologists discovered 329 stone tools at the Dingen archaeological site in the city of Wuxi. In addition, the team discovered 73 stone and bone arrowheads, as well as numerous ceramic and jade artifacts.

The Israel Antiquities Authority recently announced that the world's oldest metal fishing hook had been found in Ashkelon. It was used to catch sharks.

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