A copper sword dating back more than 2,200 years has been discovered in east China's Jiangxi Province, local archaeologists said.

The design and shape of the sword indicate that it was forged during the Warring States Period (475 BC - 221 BC), according to Li Guoli, curator of the Nanchang Museum, where the sword is currently being stored.

Despite having little aesthetic or scientific value due to a lack of decor or inscriptions, the sword still offers insights into the type of military equipment used during the period, Li said.

The identity of the sword's original owner and the precise location where the sword was forged and used are still unknown, Li said.

The sword was discovered by a laborer surnamed Xiong in Jiangxi's capital of Nanchang. Xiong found the sword while sorting and cleaning stones that had been dredged up from a riverbank.

An argument between Xiong and another worker who was trying to claim the sword aroused attention from the local law enforcement, who then convinced Xiong to turn the sword over to archaeological authorities.