The top 10 archaeological discoveries for 2023, one of the most prestigious honors for China's archaeologists, was released on Friday in Beijing.

They were chosen from 22 finalists through open ballot by 21 of the country's top-tier scholars from archaeological institutes and universities, and are the leading group of the more than 1,600 excavations carried out in the last year.

Bashan Paleolithic site complex from 100,000 to 10,000 years ago in Yishui county, Shandong province. [Photo provided to China Daily]