An unearthed bronze animal. [Photo by Guo Jing/China Daily]

The vessels are thus the oldest artifacts found with characters using the city's current name.

Nearly 3,000 pieces of well-preserved bamboo slips, which were used to keep records were discovered.

A portrait of Confucius was also found in the tomb－one of the earliest ones of the philosopher.

The discovery of such a large quantity of well-preserved artifacts will also probably give a new impetus to the handicraft industry.