Archaeologists in Luoyang, Henan Province, have uncovered the ruins of a large Northern Wei Dynasty (386–534) state-run grain storage facility, identified as part of the Tai Cang, the imperial granary.

The site, located east of the Han-Wei Luoyang Ancient City imperial palace, contains 168 storage pits arranged in 14 columns by 12 rows, with 13 pits excavated so far, each about 9–11 meters wide and 4 meters deep.

Unlike palace storage for the imperial household, the Tai Cang held grain for officials’ salaries, military supplies, and disaster relief, with each pit estimated to store roughly 120 tonnes of millet.

Archaeologists believe this may represent only a portion of the granary, with more pits likely awaiting discovery, Xinhua has reported.

Excavations continue at the historic Han-Wei Luoyang site, which served as the capital for multiple dynasties from the Western Zhou to early Tang periods.