SHIJIAZHUANG, March 6 (Xinhua) -- Archaeologists have found 263 items of cultural heritage in the Xiongan New Area in north China's Hebei Province.

A joint archaeological team carried out a survey of an area of about 2,000 square km in 33 counties and townships in Xiongan from June to December last year, according to the provincial Cultural Relics Institute.

The findings include 189 ruins sites, 43 tombs, 15 ancient buildings and 16 places with cultural relics from the modern era. The heritage date back to as early as the Neolithic Period.

"The discoveries will help us better protect the relics," said Zhang Wenrui, head of the institute. "They will also help with archaeological work in Xiongan."

Xiongan New Area, established in April 2017, is a new economic zone about 100 kilometers southwest of Beijing. It is the third new area of national significance after the Shenzhen Special Economic Zone and the Shanghai Pudong New Area.