China's first database on ancient pottery and ceramics was established recently, according to a recent international seminar on ceramic engineering and materials held in China's Capital of Ceramic, Jingdezhen City of east China's Jiangxi Province.

Yang Yun, associate professor from Shaanxi Science and Technology University and one of the directors of the database program, said designs, heights, patterns, glaze and origins of all available ancient pottery and ceramics were stored in the database, which is only available to registered professional pottery and ceramic researchers.

Database users may input basic information in the above aspects of the newly discovered ancient pottery and ceramics to obtain "a detailed and accurate assessment," said Yang.

The database, which has been approved by the National Natural Sciences Fund, is widely expected to shed some light on future excavation and study on ancient Chinese pottery and ceramics.

Chinese pottery and ceramics can be dated back to over 11,700 years ago and are specifically divided into categories such as single-color and colorful pottery, and glazed colorful ceramic.

(Xinhua News Agency October 23, 2004)