Archaeologists in Zhejiang Province have uncovered a 5,000-year-old Liangzhu culture structure that served as a sophisticated astronomical observatory. In addition to stone alignment markers, the site yielded several highly polished rock crystal lenses, which researchers believe were used to observe celestial bodies or focus light for ritual purposes. The precision of the crystal work suggests a level of optical knowledge far ahead of its time.
The observatory's platform is perfectly aligned with the winter and summer solstices, and the crystals were found in a special chamber oriented toward the North Star. This find redefines our understanding of Neolithic Chinese science and technology.