Carbon dating confirms age of 3,800-year-old pottery bird statue

File photo taken in December of 2016 shows the ruins of the city of Xinzhai in central China's Henan Province. Carbon dating has recently confirmed the age of a 3,800-year-old red pottery bird statue, unearthed at the ruins of the city of Xinzhai in Henan Province. The ruins was discovered in 1979 and believed to be founded by Qi, king during the Xia Dynasty, as early as 2050 BC. The statue, 16 cm long and 7 cm tall, was painted red with cinnabar, which suggests it may have been an item of worship, according to archeologists. (Xinhua/Feng Dapeng)