XI'AN, Dec. 21 -- Archeologists have unearthed a cluster of Tang Dynasty (618-907) pottery kilns not far from the imperial palace of Daming in present-day Xi'an, capital of northwest China's Shaanxi Province.

Hou Ningbin, a research fellow with the Shaanxi provincial archeological institute, said Wednesday that two of the 17 Tang Dynasty kilns unearthed this year are so well preserved that archeologists believe they can reproduce the whole pottery-making process.

The provincial authorities have decided to backfill the two kilns for long-term preservation.

Hou said this was the first time that a cluster of Tang Dynasty kilns were found in Xi'an. The kilns were unearthed in Dabaiyangxi village, which is only 5.5 km away from the ruins of Daming Palace.

Large quantities of Tang Dynasty construction materials, such as eaves tile and bricks as well as pottery wares were unearthed from the kilns.

Wang Zhiyou, another researcher with the institute said Tang Dynasty kilns are rarely found. These kilns found in Dabaiyangxi Village may have been used to make pottery construction materials for the building of imperial mansions.

He said the these kilns will provide important evidence to study the handicraft industry and the building of the imperial capital of Chang'an of the Tang Dynasty, which is considered a golden age in Chinese history.