Archaeologists of the Chinese Academy of Sciences have confirmed that a rare ancient canoe found in south China's Fujian province was built in the period of the southern and Northern Dynasties (420-589).

The canoe was found in the Minjiang river by fishermen in Minhou county this September. Most ancient canoes were unearthed from relics or underground and it was unusual to find them from a river, which made this discovery precious, said Ou Tansheng, chief of the Fujian Museum. The canoe will soon be on display at the museum.

The canoe is about 11 meters long and 0.95 meters wide and is made of a whole trunk of nanmu, a timber considered ideal for construction.

Archaeologists said the discovery is helpful in the study of local folk art and shipbuilding in Fujian province.

(Xinhua News Agency December 20, 2003)