Chinese archaeologists have unearthed 18 ancient wells dating back 1,000 years in Ezhou City, Central China's Hubei Province.

The wells, located at the ruins of the ancient capital of the Wu Kingdom (A.D. 222 to 280), lie side by side in a variety of shapes, such as cylindrical and polygonal.

The well mouths were found 2.5 meters underground, with diameters ranging from 0.8 meter to 2.2 meters and depths from 4 to 12 meters. The building materials of the wells include earth, china clay, brick and wood.

Meanwhile, more than 100 historic relics were excavated from the wells, including silver hairpins, earthenware, porcelain, bronze mirrors, iron hoe, animal bones and wooden articles.

Belonging to the Eastern Han Dynasty (A.D. 25-220), the Three Kingdoms Period (A.D. 222 to 280), and the Northern Song Dynasty (A.D. 960 to 1127), the well-preserved wells will provide valuable clues to the study of ancient city layout and people's living conditions.

(Xinhua News Agency March 29, 2006)