A number of well-known experts in the field of archaeology in China made suggestions and suggestions for the excavation, protection, interpretation and display of the Niuheliang site at the meeting. Photo by Liaoning ** reporter Zhu Zhonghe.
Core Tips. After the State Administration of Cultural Heritage officially announced the latest research results of the "Chinese Civilization Exploration Project", on December 13, the forum on the latest research results of Niuheliang Hongshan culture was held in Chaoyang City. A number of well-known domestic experts in the field of archaeology used online and offline methods to explain in depth the significance of the Niuheliang site being identified as the "representative of the first stage of the ancient Chinese civilization" and the important position of "Niuheliang" in the process of Chinese civilization, and from their own research perspective, they made suggestions on how to excavate, protect, interpret and display in the next step.
Hongshan Culture has made remarkable achievements in both the material and spiritual fields.
On December 13, at the forum on the latest research results of Niuheliang Hongshan culture held in Chaoyang City, the experts at the meeting unanimously said that "the Niuhe site represents the first stage of the ancient Chinese civilization". Wang Wei, a member of the Faculty of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, said after briefly reviewing the development process of the Chinese civilization exploration project, that the Niuheliang site is in a very critical stage from the "origin" to the "formation" of Chinese civilization.
Liu Guoxiang, researcher of the Institute of Archaeology of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences and secretary-general of the Archaeological Society of China, attended the forum. He said that the result that "the Niuhe site represents the first stage of the ancient Chinese civilization" is of great significance for establishing the important academic value of the Niuheliang site and the source status of the Hongshan culture in the process of Chinese civilization for more than 5,000 years. Liu Guoxiang said that this achievement was achieved through the unremitting efforts of several generations of archaeologists.
Liu Guoxiang believes that according to the changes in the type and quantity of buried jade artifacts and the combination relationship of the Niuheliang site, it can reflect the grading difference of the tombs, which is the earliest form of jade ritual system in China that can be confirmed at present, and has had a very important impact on the jade of Lingjiatan culture, Liangzhu culture and the jade of the third dynasty of the Xia and Shang dynasties. While we see the pioneering material achievements of the late Hongshan culture, the spiritual achievements of the late Hongshan culture are remarkable, and they are marked by heaven and earth worship, ancestor worship and dragon totem worship, which is also an important example of the late Hongshan culture entering the primary civilized society.
As the leader of the excavation of the Niuheliang site, Jia Xiaobing, director of the World Archaeology Research Office of the Institute of Archaeology of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, comprehensively explained the excavation of the Niuheliang site and the foundation of the first site, and gave an in-depth explanation of the relationship between the first site and the sacrifice and ritual system in traditional Chinese culture.
Lu Xueming, a professor at the School of History and Culture of Chinese University, said that Hongshan culture is of great significance in "taking jade as a gift" and establishing a sacrificial system. He believes that the hunting economy occupies a greater proportion in the economic system of the ancestors of Hongshan.
Hua Yubing, a professor at the School of Archaeology and Museums of Liaoning University, who has been engaged in the study of Hongshan culture for many years, said after a brief analysis of the process of opening the "ancient kingdom era" at the Niuheliang site that the Niuheliang site has unique cultural characteristics both at the material level and at the spiritual level, and the concept of "Niuheliang culture" should be considered.
Guo Dashun, head of the Liaoning Provincial Cultural Relics Protection Expert Group, has been engaged in the archaeology and research of Hongshan culture for decades. He said that the latest results announced by the State Administration of Cultural Heritage are of great significance to both the study of Hongshan culture and the next step of the excavation of the Niuheliang site. Guo Dashun reminded that in the excavation of the Niuheliang site, we should pay attention to the central axis existing in the site, which is not only the beginning of China's "central axis" architectural layout, but also the layout of "north temple and south altar" and "north south circle", which has been extended for more than 5,000 years and has a far-reaching impact.
The excavation and research of the Niuheliang site will continue to be deepened.
The conclusion that the Niuheliang site was established as the representative of the first stage of the ancient kingdom era is not only a summary of the results of the continuous excavation of the Niuheliang site in our province in the past few decades, but also puts forward higher requirements for the archaeological excavation of the Niuheliang site in the future. Facing the future, the participating experts offered suggestions from different perspectives.
Wang Wei suggested that under the overall framework, we should continue to do a good job in the multi-provincial linkage between Liaoning, Hebei and Inner Mongolia Autonomous Regions in the archaeology of Hongshan culture, grasp the key sites and key links, and carry out in-depth excavations. At the same time, the excavation results will be announced in a timely manner, and the results will be transformed to expand the influence of Hongshan culture.
Zhang Chi, chief expert of the Chinese civilization exploration project, attended the forum. He pointed out that in recent years, China's archaeological cause has ushered in an important period of development opportunities, and archaeologists must continue to steadily promote the archaeological work of Hongshan culture in combination with the "Archaeological China" project and the "Chinese Civilization Exploration Project". For the next step, he pointed out several key directions, one of which is that the details of the "Goddess Temple" site need to be further clarified through scientific archaeology;The second is that the dating work of the Niuheliang site should be rigorous and meticulous, and it should withstand the torture and scrutiny of experts and scholarsThird, in the archaeological investigation, it is necessary to pay attention to the research value of subtle signs, especially those abandoned sites. He believes that the archaeological research of Hongshan culture is not an overnight task, and it will take a long time of hard work.
Zhu Yanping, a researcher at the Institute of Archaeology of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, has always been concerned about the archaeological excavation and research of Hongshan culture. Participating in the forum this time, he pointed out that the Hongshan culture is significantly different from other cultural sites of the ancient era, that is, the Hongshan culture has its own roots and does not come out of thin air. In the study of Hongshan culture, especially the Niuheliang site, it is also necessary to think about why the Hongshan ancestors chose Niuheliang and what attracts the Hongshan ancestors in this site in the archaeological excavation and research. Zhu Yanping analyzed, is it Niuheliang, there are things that the ancestors of Hongshan need to protect in particular. He suggested that the next step is to excavate the archaeological excavation of the first site of the Niuheliang site, especially the excavation of the high point of the Shantai complex at the first site, and pay attention to whether there are more ancient cultural memories such as clay terracotta.
Lu Xueming suggested that the ruins of the goddess temple, the first site in the site, should be analyzed in detail, and a serious discussion should be held on whether the objects of worship at the site were ancestors or gods. At the same time, detailed archaeological excavations of the thirteenth site will be carried out to reveal its core significance. A natural resource survey will also be carried out in the vicinity of the Niuheliang site.
Hua Yubing suggested that the research on the unity of the Niuheliang site and the Lingjiatan site should be increased to reveal how the ancient cultures separated by the two places more than 5,000 years ago were exchanged. The influence of the first stage of the ancient kingdom period on the inheritance of the subsequent stages should also be studied in depth.
Liaoning ** reporter Zhu Zhonghe Guo Ping).