United News of Bangladesh

Archaeologists in Xi’an, the capital of northwest China’s Shaanxi Province, have uncovered a well-planned suburban settlement dating back to the Western Han Dynasty, offering new insights into life on the outskirts of the ancient capital Chang’an. The discovery was made during excavations at the Sanjiu relic site, according to the Shaanxi Provincial Institute of Archaeology. The settlement dates from the middle of the Western Han period to the Xin Dynasty, which ruled between 202 BC and 25 AD. Also Read: Why a lone nihilist penguin from a 2007 documentary goes viral The Sanjiu site is located in Xi’an’s Weiyang District, about 0.6 kilometres east of the eastern wall of ancient Chang’an City. Archaeological work carried out in 2025 also revealed remains from later periods, including a Northern Wei cemetery, tombs from the Song Dynasty, and pottery kilns dating to the Qing Dynasty. Researchers found that the Western Han settlement was divided by a north to south ditch. On the eastern side, eight large courtyard-style residential complexes were arranged along a cross-shaped road system, forming what archaeologists believe was a central area for food processing activities. On the western side of the ditch, excavators identified workshops for bone processing and metal smelting alongside residential areas. The team recovered about 78 kilograms of bone and shell materials, as well as iron tools and decorative items such as bone earrings and shell beads, suggesting the presence of a jewellery production workshop. Also Read: Bird murals bring Hong Kong’s migratory stories to life in Lantau’s forgotten village Project leader Zhang Yanglizheng said the findings reveal previously unknown details about how suburban areas near Chang’an City were organised, highlighting the site’s importance for understanding social and economic structures during the Western Han period.