So far, about 3,300 sq m of the site have been excavated, and iron objects, including knives and metallurgical remains such as copper ingots, have been unearthed, says Mo Linheng, an associate researcher at the institute.

The main section of the site was an ironware production and processing workshop that integrated a variety of functions such as smelting, casting and forging, Mo says.

Archaeologists have also found many remnants of possible metallurgical processing furnaces, including square-shaped crypt furnaces and circular stone furnaces.

"These relics are unique in form and have certain local characteristics, which have helped fill in some gaps in the study of ancient iron processing," Mo says.

Mo adds that many important and well-preserved metallurgical sites of the Han and Jin dynasties nationwide are found in the central plains or northern regions, and the discovery of such a large-scale ironware processing site in Hunan is of great archaeological value.