Experts say the well-preserved skeleton of a male, about 45-50 years old in hard granite, must have been a wealthy man of high social status since he was buried with such fine artefacts.

"The discovery provides important clues into the study of burial customs and religious and sacrificial rituals from 5,500 years ago," Meng said.

As Meng explained the significance of the ruins, an elderly farmer approached us. Meng introduced him as one of the two guards protecting the No 2 Site.

"I have been a guard for six years at this site," said Li Kuan, a 57-year-old farmer. Li added that he had been working a total of 20 years here switching between three sites.

He and his partner Dong Jingyu take turns every two days on 24-hour watch of the site.

They share a small house no bigger than 10 square meters at the corner of the site.

Life is a bit boring.

A kang or a brick bed occupied half of the space, leaving a little room for a table and a brick-made stove for both cooking and heating.

There is no electricity and water. Li and his partner have to share 20 candles every month and they have to carry water from the river two kilometers away.

When he is alone Li enjoys playing erhu. "That can kill the time during long winter nights since there is nobody to talk to," Li said.

Li said there are guards on each of the 16 sites, most of who are local farmers.

To protect the ruins, the local government removed three state-owned iron mines, three factories and 30 private mines. More than 10,000 villagers have moved to settle down away from the reserve.

No wonder Li gets lonely.

Cheng Weidong contributed to the story.

(China Daily 03/07/2007 page19)