DAMASCUS, Oct. 17 (Xinhua) -- Archaeologists have unearthed an 11-millennium-old building on the banks of the Euphrates River in northern Syria, the official SANA news agency reported on Tuesday.

The building, which dates back to 8,700 B.C., "may represent the oldest ritual practices related to the holy ox," said Dr. Yousef Kanjo from the Archeological Department of Aleppo, in northern Syrian.

The ancient building, shaped like a wild ox skull, consists of a rectangular forepart with geometrical drawings in red, black and white colors, said the report, quoting a statement by the Aleppo Archeological Department.

On the two sides of the rectangle, two semi-circle walls representing the two horns of the ox were also found, said the report, adding that the house still keeps it original shape, colors and decoration works.

The site was discovered by the French-Syrian Archeological Mission for Excavations, SANA said. Enditem