The bronze wares were unique national treasures for China in ancient times for their impressive designs, classical decorative ornamentation, and wealth of inscriptions.The earliest stoneware in China was found in 3000 B.C. The Shang and Zhou dynasties ushered China into the height of the Bronze Age. During this period the making of bronze ware reached its zenith. Hubei has a long history of bronze smelting, with superb craftmanship. In Hubei Provincial Museum there are 400 items bronzes that have been assessed as key cultural and historic relics, most of which were from the Warring States Peroid. There were others from the Shang Dynasty, Southern and Northern Dynasties and Tang Dynasty.