Chinese archeologists have found a group of cliff paintings in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region that they believe are more than 2,000 years old.

The 100-odd paintings were found on rocks in a deep valley dubbed "ghost valley" in the Urad Middle Banner bordering Mongolia, according to North China News, a newspaper based in Hohhot, capital of the autonomous region.

Some paintings feature images of animals -- cattle, sheep and dogs, and others tell how the ancient northerners used to hunt.

The paintings are well protected as few people have ever visited the valley, in which archeologists have also found grottoes of rare shapes and ancient trees.

Experts say the cliff paintings will provide clues to scholars on the history of the northern nomadic tribes who inhabited the region over 2,000 years ago.

Earlier reports said a group of 5,000-year-old cliff paintings were uncovered in Wuhai, in the western part of the autonomous region.
 
(Xinhua News Agency December 19, 2003)