Chinese archaeologists found ruins of a 2,700-year-old village in northwest China's Shaanxi Province.

The ruins date from the Western Zhou Dynasty (11th Century B.C to 771 B.C.) Sections of a row of houses in the ruins are well preserved, said Yang Yachang, a researcher with the provincial archaeology research institute.

A lot of stone knives and pottery utensils were found in the houses, which were built on a base of pounded earth. Archaeologists also found millet and bean seeds in the houses.

Yang said that the discovery provides new model for studies on ancient residential culture.

(Peopledaily.com March 17, 2005)