The Shanxi Provincial Institute of Archaeology recently established an important archaeological center in Quwo county, which is administered by Linfen city, North China's Shanxi province. 

Quwo is an ancient county with a history spanning 3,000 years and the ancient state of Jin (1033-376 BC) established its capital there for 346 years. 

Since the 1970s, a joint archaeological team from Peking University and archaeological research departments in Shanxi have carried out excavations in the county, with discoveries providing evidence of the chronicles of the kings of the Western Zhou Dynasty (c.11th century-771 BC). 

The new archaeological base in Quwo will integrate the existing pedagogical sites and resources of Qucun Middle School and establish an archaeological base in Qucun Town that will integrate teaching, scientific research, practice and displays. 

It will provide a sound environment for archaeological research, relic site protection, training and the restoration and display of cultural relics. 

Lei Xingshan, dean of School of Archaeology and Museology at Peking University, said that the university would contribute to the study of the ancient state of Jin together with Shanxi archaeologists.