Archeologists in Central China's Henan Province have made an exciting discovery. Exquisitely engraved stone inscriptions were found in Nanyang City dating back further in history than most stone inscriptions uncovered so far.

This stone inscription was unearthed in a remote area of Fangxian County in Nanyang City. It consists of two giant stones -- each four meters high.

The two giant stones cover an area of around 60 square meters. 138 Buddha statues are engraved on the stones, depicting various gestures.

A local historian, Nie Zhentao says the engraved figures on the stones reflect the fusion of cultures back in that time period -- mixing both the western areas of China and central China. Judging from the engraved figures, the stone inscriptions were probably made during the Han Dynasty, some two thousand years ago.

Many parts of the stone inscriptions are difficult to see after years of exposure to the weather. But the costumes of the engraved figures are clear. The stone inscriptions were unearthed in Fangxian County. That's where Zhang Qian -- the first official diplomat to bring back reliable information about Central Asia to the Chinese imperial court during the Han Dynasty -- was a honored minister of the government.

Archeologists are still trying to determine if the stone inscriptions are related to Zhang Qian's expeditions to the western regions.