Sanxingdui relics

A sacrificial altar are among a treasure trove of 13,000 relics dating back over 3,000 years discovered by archaeologists in southwest China. The relics -- many made of gold, bronze and jade -- were unearthed in six sacrificial pits at the Sanxingdui archaeological site, near Chengdu. The Sanxingdui culture left behind no records. It is thought to be part of the ancient kingdom of Shu. It ruled in the western Sichuan basin along the upper stream of the Yangtze River until it was conquered in 316 BC.

Researchers described a turtleshell-shaped box made of bronze and jade as among their more intriguing finds. It is the first time such an object has been found.