Xinhua News Agency, Beijing, Feb. 23 (Xinhua) -- On Feb. 23, Xinhua Daily Telegraph published a report entitled "Exploring 'Why China' and Illuminating 'Where the Future' -- Observation of New Trends in China's Archaeological Development".
Chinese archaeology, in the eyes of many foreigners and even Chinese, was once very mysterious. Recently, the reporter learned from the exchanges with Chinese archaeologists that from the development of archaeological technology, to the innovation of public archaeology, to the archaeological exchanges between China and foreign countries, China is constantly building archaeology with Chinese characteristics, Chinese style and Chinese style, providing a driving force for exchanges and mutual learning among world civilizations.
Technological archaeology has uncovered many secrets that are difficult to discover in traditional archaeology, and protected many cultural relics that were originally difficult to preserve. With the innovative operation of national archaeological site parks and museums, the public's exposure and understanding of archaeology is deepening. More and more Chinese archaeologists are going abroad to exchange and cooperate with foreign counterparts to understand the uniqueness and commonality of each other's civilizations in promoting exchanges and mutual learning among world civilizations.
This is the working cabin in the protection greenhouse of the archaeological excavation site of the Sanxingdui site taken on March 1. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Shen Bohan From prehistoric sites to underwater heritage, scientific and technological innovation achievements continue to support Chinese archaeology.
In Yulin, Shaanxi, the ruins of Shiyuan built 4,300 years ago are located on the Loess Plateau.
Here, archaeologists have discovered magnificent palace buildings, complex city defense facilities, exquisite stone carvings and jade artifacts. These high-grade relics mark that the Jin-Shaanxi Plateau has entered a highly developed civilization stage in the critical period of the origin of Chinese civilization and the formation of a pluralistic and integrated pattern. Sun Zhouyong, deputy director of the Shaanxi Provincial Bureau of Cultural Relics, said.
Three emperors and five emperors, Gonggong, Dayu ......The past of the stone has given rise to a lot of speculation.
As the host of the excavation of Shiyuan, Sun Zhouyong said that archaeology pays attention to the accumulation and analysis of physical materials, and does not tend to match them with ancient historical figures too early.
However, through scientific and technological means, we have determined that the Shiyuan civilization was created by the indigenous people who had lived here for a long time, and absorbed some cultural factors from the adjacent areas during the same period, revealing the evolution of the commercial economy of the Shiyuan residents. Sun Zhouyong introduced that these research results show that the ancestors of Shiyuan and the surrounding people jointly promoted the formation of the integration pattern of Chinese civilization in the continuous exchange and collision.
Technological archaeology is playing an increasingly important role in archaeological investigation, excavation and research, revealing many secrets that are difficult to discover in traditional archaeology and protecting many cultural relics that are otherwise difficult to preserve.
Luoyang, Henan, Erlitou ruins are the capital ruins of the late Xia Dynasty.
The earliest tic-tac-toe road system and the walls on both sides of the city have been discovered in China to date to plan the capital into multiple grids, revealing a multi-grid layout of the palace city in the center, hierarchical planning, zoning and dwelling, and the integration of dwelling and burial. Such a rigorous, clear, and regular layout shows that there were mature and developed planning ideas, ruling systems and models at that time, which was the most important sign of Erlitou's entry into the dynastic state. In addition, three early rut marks have been found at the Erlitou site. Photo courtesy of Zhao Haitao, head of the Erlitou archaeological team of the Institute of Archaeology of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, "The ancestors of the Central Plains extensively absorbed and integrated the advanced elements of the surrounding civilizations, and for the first time truly integrated the core area of the Central Plains into a unified civilization, and initially formed a bronze ritual and music civilization that focused on hierarchy and integration, and established the basic characteristics of the Chinese ritual and music civilization together with the Shang and Zhou civilizations. Zhao Haitao, captain of the Erlitou archaeological team of the Institute of Archaeology of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, said that the rituals and systems such as yazhang and turquoise bronze medallions created by the ancestors of Erlitou have affected the vast area from Lingnan to the northeast.
Technoarchaeology is able to extract information that cannot be obtained by traditional methods, revealing human activities and ancient history related to it. Chen Xianglong, deputy director of the Science and Technology Archaeology Center of the Institute of Archaeology of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, said that the scientific and technological archaeological research of the Erlitou site found that the site not only has a high proportion of foreign people, but also a large number of foreign livestock, and may also have incorporated grains such as millet and wild grapes.
Chen Xianglong introduced that the study of Erlitou pottery residues also found evidence of wine-making and drinking, and speculated that the raw materials for wine-making at that time were mainly rice, wheat, millet, millet, mixed with coix, etc., and koji was made with monascus mold and rice, and grass koji was added.
Guanghan, Sichuan, Sanxingdui site "new" cultural relics have a peculiar shape, adding new physical evidence for the pluralism and integration of Chinese civilization.
During the excavation of the Sanxingdui site in 1986, people used bamboo poles to build fences, and the excavated cultural relics were mostly wrapped in paper and put into wooden boxes to be transported out ......Today, these methods have been replaced by more sophisticated, safe, technologically charged operations. In the excavation of the newly discovered sacrificial pit in Sanxingdui after 2019, four transparent archaeological cabins were built, and the temperature and humidity inside the cabin can be controlled to give the best protection environment for the unearthed organic cultural relics, which is the world's first "multi-functional archaeological comprehensive excavation platform".
This scientific and technological archaeological practice explores the combination of preventive protection and archaeological excavation, laboratory archaeology and field archaeology, and high-tech means and archaeological norms. Tang Fei, director of the Sichuan Provincial Bureau of Cultural Relics, introduced that Sichuan archaeologists built greenhouses in advance, monitored groundwater levels and temperatures and evaluated, and then built shelters, and equipped with emergency detection and analysis rooms, emergency protection rooms and other platforms in the greenhouses.
Cultural heritage is not only on land, but also in the vast seas. Scientific and technological innovation and equipment improvement have brought China's underwater archaeology to a new stage. "We apply the short baseline positioning system to underwater archaeology, determine the specific location of diving archaeologists underwater, and conduct command through underwater horns to improve safety and efficiency. Feng Lei, deputy research librarian of the Liaoning Provincial Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology, said that most of the current members of China's first-line underwater archaeological team have technical diving qualifications, and also use 3D sonar scanning and other technologies to show the situation of the shipwreck underwater.
History is within reach, and the distance between Chinese archaeology and the public is getting closer.
The mountains are undulating and the ravines are crisscrossed. Located in Yangyuan, Hebei Province, the Nihewan National Archaeological Site Park is a treasure trove of ancient human secrets. Paleolithic archaeological discoveries over the past 100 years have pushed back the origin of human beings in China and the entire East Asian region to about 1.7 million years ago.
A group of middle school students conducted simulated excavations under the guidance of archaeologists, looking for traces left by ancient humans on the land millions of years ago according to stratigraphy and accumulation.
Our stone tools were made in reference to the production methods of ancient humans in the Paleolithic period, and were buried in the soil a year ago. We use and tamp different textures of soil in different strata to make the scene as close as possible to the real archaeological site. Zhang Wenrui, president of the Hebei Provincial Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology, said that experts will also teach students to make stone tools used by ancient humans on the spot, so that students can find more fun and understand the meaning and value of these seemingly inconspicuous stone tools.
Archaeology should not only be limited to the academic itself, but also need to be oriented to the general public, so that everyone can understand archaeology, like archaeology, care for cultural relics, and understand history. Zhang Wenrui said that many archaeological sites are fenced off, and the public cannot participate or even contact, and in recent years, according to the situation, students will also be arranged to enter the real site and participate in the front-line archaeological work.
In recent years, the Hebei Provincial Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology has actively invited nearby villagers to visit the park and explore the historical heritage of the land under their feet.
This has effectively shortened the distance between the local villagers and the ancient cultural heritage, giving them a sincere sense of pride and honor, which is of positive significance for the discovery and protection of cultural heritage. Zhang Wenrui said.
Surrounded by green water, the distant mountains are like daisies. Hotels and campsites are scattered throughout. Here, people can walk into the museum and touch the ceramic fragments of the Spring and Autumn period; You can walk into the library and look through the best archaeological catalogues; You can walk into the simulated archaeological exploration and feel the daily life of archaeologists at the excavation site; You can even cook on a fire in the Hanzao experience area, and feel how people cooked nearly 2,000 years ago.
It's not just a park, it's not just a camp, it's not just a resort, it's a place where history is at your fingertips.
The ruins of the ancient city of Anji, Zhejiang Province were built in the Spring and Autumn Period and were important capitals in the early Yue Kingdom. The ancestors of Goujian, the king of Yue, who was famous for his salary, lived here.
Two elementary school students experience pottery restoration at the Anji Ancient City National Archaeological Site Park. Photo courtesy of Ke Anshun, Director of the Anji County Ancient City Site Conservation Center "The Anji Ancient City National Archaeological Site Park, which was established in 2017, allows visitors to explore Chinese history and culture in depth while visiting historical sites and enjoying natural scenery. In 2023, it will receive 200,000 visitors. Ke Anshun, director of the Anji County Ancient City Ruins Protection Center, introduced that this not only explores how to integrate the operation of the archaeological site park with the cultural and tourism industry, but also practices how to let the public better find the connection with archaeology and feel the temperature of archaeology.
In 2023, China has experienced a museum boom, especially during the holidays, with long queues in front of many museums, and even a ticket is hard to find. Archaeological museums such as the Shaanxi Archaeological Museum and the China Archaeological Museum are particularly conspicuous in the museum fever.
Compared with other museums, we hope to let the public understand the charm and value of archaeology more intuitively by showing the process of archaeological work and various specimens. Zheng Yuan, vice president of Shanxi Provincial Institute of Archaeology and deputy director of Shanxi Archaeological Museum, has been listed five or six special archaeological museums prepared and managed by archaeological research institutions, and China has produced a large number of archaeological achievements in recent years.
Chen Xingcan, director of the Institute of Archaeology of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, introduced that in recent years, the major project of "Archaeological China" has achieved important results, the "Chinese Civilization Exploration Project" has been deepened, the "formation and development of a unified multi-ethnic country" related topics have been gradually implemented, the pace of archaeology "going out" has become increasingly solid and steady, scientific and technological archaeology and underwater archaeology have developed rapidly, and a number of high-quality archaeological programs have been produced and broadcast, which has expanded the social influence of archaeology.
Zheng Yuan said that China has a long history and culture, and every new archaeological discovery continues to stimulate people's curiosity and pride in its historical roots and cultural heritage. With the updated exhibition methods of museums and the popularization of public archaeological education, the public is more and more aware of the significance of archaeological work to the protection and inheritance of historical and cultural heritage.
The big river goes east, and the Chu wind is long. The new Hubei Provincial Museum opened at the end of 2021, and the new design exhibition brings visitors a more profound visiting experience.
Through text, audio-visual materials and other multiple ways, visitors continue to deepen their understanding of how the sword of King Goujian of Yue entered Chu and why it is stainless for thousands of years, and can also condense the kingly demeanor of this legendary cultural relic from all angles through the interactive touch screen; The special exhibition of "800 Years of the Chu State" focuses on reflecting the Chu people's spirit of struggle, enterprising and innovative, and patriotic spirit of never regretting death, which constantly resonates with ......
We carry out various activities such as social education and public archaeology lectures; Exhibitions such as the annual exhibition of archaeological achievements and the exhibition of important archaeological discoveries will be held on a regular basis, and the digital management of all cultural relics in the collection will be gradually completed, and an integrated platform for archaeological excavation, cultural relics restoration, digital collection management and achievement display will be built, so that the cultural relics in the museum can be brought to life and truly entered the public. Fang Qin, president of the Hubei Provincial Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology, said.
Through cross-civilization historical dialogue, the international influence of Chinese archaeology continues to grow.
The dialogue between the Shang Dynasty queen and the Egyptian pharaoh Ramses II across time and space may soon take place.
I'm the queen of the Shang Dynasty, and I'll tell you a few little secrets: I like makeup, cooking, and collecting. "I assisted my husband in receiving copper ingots from all over the country, inspecting the harvest, presiding over the sacrifices of the Great Shang Kingdom, and leading the army to conquer Qiang, Yi and Ba. ”…In November 2023, Tang Jigen, the former director of the Anyang Workstation of the Institute of Archaeology of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences and chair professor of Southern University of Science and Technology, released a digital human designed for women after meticulous research, allowing her to tell the history.
Women are good digital people. Courtesy of Tang Jigen, former director of the Anyang Workstation of the Institute of Archaeology of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences and chair professor of Southern University of Science and Technology "When people all over the world mention ancient Egypt, they think of Ramses II; Ancient Greece is associated with the Mycenaean king Agamemnon, whose legend has it that the abduction of his sister-in-law Helen sparked the Trojan War. She basically lives in the same era as them, and in the exchange and mutual learning of civilizations, we need to enhance her popularity, so that the world can better understand and appreciate China's ancient civilization. Tang Jigen said.
Archaeological work is an important work to display and construct the history of the Chinese nation and the treasures of Chinese civilization. In recent years, China's archaeological achievements have not only been fruitful, but also widely recognized in the international community, and the international discourse power of Chinese archaeology has not only been enhanced, but also better explained China's endless cultural genes to the world.
The fossil skull of Homo erectus, which is about 1 million years old, has been unearthed in Hubei, providing key information and evidence for the evolution model of ancient humans in East Asia and Homo erectus in East Asia. Solid evidence of Peking Man's control over the use of fire was found, which was a strong response to the doubts of Western scholars. **Paleolithic ruins dating back 3 to 40,000 years were discovered at the Natra Neati site, published in the American journal Science, rewriting the global academic community's understanding of ancient man's conquest of extreme environments ......The history of prehistoric human existence in the land of China is constantly becoming clearer.
The land of the East has a special group of people and a unique culture, and there were ancestors who multiplied and multiplied millions of years ago, continuously evolved, and gave birth to civilization. Gao Xing, a researcher at the Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, said that economic and social development has provided more powerful funding, manpower and material support and guarantee for Chinese archaeology.
The ruins of the Tao Temple in Linfen, Shanxi Province, are thought to be the capital of the Yao Dynasty. A large rammed earth foundation site found there was a building that had both a visual and a ritual function.
The discovery of the observatory makes us realize that exploring the universe and asking questions about the heavens has always been the theme and dream of the Chinese from ancient times to the present, and the calendar it presents is the solar calendar known to the world at that time, and it is also an important source of the 24 solar terms. Gao Jiangtao, leader of the Taosi archaeological team of the Institute of Archaeology of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, said that many foreign scholars have written about it.
Chinese archaeology has constructed a spatio-temporal framework accepted by most scholars, and basically sorted out the development of prehistoric culture in the Central Plains, Northeast, Northwest and Eastern Coastal Regions. Huang Jianqiu, a professor at the School of History of Nanjing University, introduced.
China has done remarkable work in the field of Neolithic archaeology, which not only reveals the high civilization development of the Yellow River and Yangtze River basins in the Neolithic period, but also demonstrates China's rapid archaeological strength. Kazuo Miyamoto, a professor at Kyushu University in Japan who has participated in archaeological excavations in Liaoning, Hubei and Sichuan, said.
Cultural relics and cultural heritage carry the genes and blood of the Chinese nation, and are also the common heritage of mankind. Archaeology with Chinese characteristics, Chinese style, and Chinese style requires a broader international perspective.
According to Jia Xiaobing, director of the World Archaeology Research Office of the Institute of Archaeology of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, Sino-foreign cooperative archaeological excavation research started relatively early, starting from the first decade of the 20th century. The main thing is to invite European, American and Japanese scholars to participate in the excavation and research of Chinese archaeology; Since the beginning of the 21st century, especially in the past 10 years, archaeology abroad has gradually become more frequent, including cultural exchanges between Eurasia and archaeology of other ancient civilization centers in the world, such as the excavation of Angkor monuments in Cambodia from 2011 to 2014, the excavation and research of Mayan civilization in Honduras in 2015, and the excavation of the temple site of Mentu in Luxor, Egypt in 2018.
Team members from China and Egypt discussed the excavation plan at the excavation site of the temple site. Photo courtesy of Jia Xiaobing, director of the World Archaeology Research Office of the Institute of Archaeology of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences "In the past, we rarely carried out archaeological work in other ancient civilizations, and it was difficult to conduct more in-depth comparative research. Peng Xiaojun, deputy director of the Prehistoric Archaeology Research Office of the Institute of Archaeology of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, believes that in recent years, more and more Chinese archaeologists have gone abroad to exchange and cooperate with foreign counterparts to understand the uniqueness and commonality of each other's civilizations through mutual learning.
The archaeological work reflects a strong sense of family and country, and the excellent traditional Chinese culture is broad and profound, which will inevitably be revealed and explained through archaeology. The real style is based on China's archaeological research, and it is the consciousness of exploring and promoting exchanges and mutual learning among world civilizations. Standing in China, we must look at the world and achieve a higher level. Shaanxi Provincial Institute of Archaeology vice president Chong Jianrong said.
In recent years, China has made remarkable achievements in the fields of scientific and technological archaeology and public archaeology, and has also made significant progress in archaeological excavations abroad. This promotes the innovation of Chinese archaeological theory and technical capabilities, constructs the discipline system, academic system and discourse system of Chinese archaeology, and contributes archaeological wisdom and strength to the construction of the modern civilization of the Chinese nation. Liu Guoxiang, secretary general of the Chinese Archaeological Society, said.