Complete gold mask discovered [Photo/Wang Xi (Xinhua)]

More than 500 pieces of relics have been discovered in recent months at the legendary Sanxingdui Ruins site in southwest China's Sichuan Province, with a complete gold mask dating back about 3,000 years drawing worldwide attention.

The relics, discovered at the six new sacrificial pits of the ruins, include golden masks, jade and ivory artifacts and bronzeware that were exquisitely built and uniquely shaped.

The new finds bring the total number of items discovered at Sanxingdui to nearly 2,000 after the excavation of No. 3 to No. 8 sacrificial pits began in October last year.

Originally discovered in the late 1920s, the Sanxingdui Ruins have been dubbed as one of the world's greatest archaeological finds of the 20th century.

Located in the city of Guanghan, around 60 km from the provincial capital Chengdu, the ruins covering an area of 12 square km are believed to be the remnants of the Shu Kingdom, dating back some 4,500 to 3,000 years.

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