Chinese archeologists from both sides of the Taiwan Straits Sunday jointly published an academic book on rare bronze articles, dating back to the Spring and Autumn Period (BC770- BC476), in Zhengzhou, capital of central China's Henan Province.

More than 20 experts and museum curators from the two sides attended the publishing ceremony and a related seminar on relics which were unearthed from a major king's tomb in 1923 in Xinzheng City in the province.

Nearly 100 rare bronze articles for sacrifice ceremonies were discovered during the excavation of the tomb site, which is presumed to be a graveyard of the ancient Zheng Kingdom.

The tomb occupier was possibly a king of the Zheng Kingdom, said an archaeologist, adding that the discovery has provided valuable clues to study of the period's history and culture of the kingdom.

The bronze articles were among a collection of the provincial museum of Henan before the founding of New China in 1949. Now, the relics are separated in different museums on both sides of the straits.

Over the past 50 years, the relics have never been shown together, the expert said. The publication of the book is the first time the scattered relics have been shown on paper together.

The book covers not only abundant images of the relics and photos recording excavation work of the tomb, but also documentary records and academic papers about the discovery and relics.

(Xinhua News Agency October 30, 2001)