Ceramic bowls found in the iron pot. [Photo/Chengdu Economic Daily]

It took officials three hours to rule out the possibility of radiation and explosives.

Local relic authority then took charge of the site and detected several white and greenish ceramic bowls inside the buried container.

Further examination showed there were altogether eight ceramic bowls, seven plates and a three-legged censor. The wares were believed to be in green glaze and date back to the Song Dynasty. The container, an ancient iron pot, was however undated.

Official said there had never been so many ancient ceramic pieces of such a high quality found in Guanghan before.