【Interview】
On October 17th, the Yangshao Cultural Discovery and the 100th Anniversary of the Birth of Modern Chinese Archaeology was held in Sanmenxia City, Henan Province. What have Chinese archaeologists done in the past hundred years, and what will they do next? On this issue, Wang Wei, a member of the Faculty of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences and chairman of the Chinese Archaeological Society, was interviewed by the Yangtze River Daily's "Reading +".
Wang Wei (right) was interviewed by a reporter from the Yangtze River Daily. Photo by Han Zhibin
Based on Chinese materials, we put forward China's "civilization standards"
Read +: How to understand the archaeology of "Chinese characteristics, Chinese style, Chinese style"?
Wang Wei: Frankly speaking, this is a "big topic", very difficult, and everyone may have their own standards and views; in the past, everyone did not think much about this aspect, and they were dealing with specific topics; but in the next hundred years of Chinese archaeology, this is the problem that every Chinese archaeologist has to think about and the direction to face.
I think that there is a starting point for building archaeology with Chinese characteristics, Chinese style, and Chinese style, that is, to build our own discipline system, academic system and discourse system.
For example, how to arrange the discipline. One of the highlights of this year's Archaeological Society is the establishment of 23 archaeological professional committees, including animal archaeology, plant archaeology, human skeleton archaeology, Silk Road archaeology, environmental archaeology, ancient urban archaeology, religious archaeology, frontier archaeology, chronological archaeology, emerging technology archaeology, underwater archaeology, digital archaeology, etc., so as to bring together the highest professional level of forces in all related fields in the country.
Another example is the discourse system. In the past, the international "civilization standard" was that the three elements of writing, metallurgy and cities were possessed before civilization was called civilization. However, we find that the Maya civilization has no metallurgy and is also recognized as a civilization; this shows that the "three elements" are not universal, but are generalized from the Egyptian civilization and the Two Rivers Valley civilization, so we put forward China's "civilization standards" based on Chinese materials. Including: the development of productive forces, the specialization of handicrafts, the social division of labor, the emergence of serious class divisions, the emergence of "kings", the emergence of large archaeological sites, the capital city, the existence of high-grade buildings such as palaces, large tombs, tombs with ceremonial instruments indicating hierarchical status, war and violence became common phenomena, and so on. With these, it can be considered to have entered civilization. Our set of standards is not only applicable to China's Liangzhu, Tao Temple, and Shidi sites, but also applicable in the world.
Since 2005, our archaeological institutions have successively gone abroad; especially after proposing the "Belt and Road", our archaeological internationalization has made great strides forward. From 2016 to 2019, we have 32 archaeological teams to carry out archaeological excavations in more than 20 countries, reaching 36 projects, showing a spurt of growth, Chinese archaeology is no longer "only know themselves, do not know others", our international influence has been significantly improved, and the right to speak has been greatly enhanced. At present, on major world archaeological topics such as Egyptian civilization, Mayan civilization, and early human beings in Kenya, the figure of Chinese archaeological teams and the voices of Chinese archaeologists are emerging.
Taking the study of Chinese history as its own responsibility, this is one of the biggest features of Chinese archaeology
Reading +: After a hundred years of history, what successful experiences have Chinese archaeology achieved?
Wang Wei: Chinese archaeology has been an integral part of the greater historiography from the very beginning. Taking the study of Chinese civilization, the Chinese nation and the history of the Chinese nation as its mission is one of the biggest features of Chinese archaeology. Discovering and constructing the historical context of the origin and development of Chinese civilization is the fundamental task of Chinese archaeologists; feeling, interpreting and publicizing the brilliant Chinese civilization is not only the mission of Chinese archaeologists, but also our honor.
I personally believe that the path that Chinese archaeology has traveled in the past 100 years can be summarized into 8 basic experiences-
1. Marxism is the magic weapon for us to understand the world and engage in scientific research, and we must persist in guiding the study of Chinese archaeology with dialectical materialism and historical materialism;
2. China's historical development has its own characteristics, And Chinese archaeology must adhere to the actual situation in China, take its own development path, and cannot copy foreign experience models;
3. Field archaeology is the key link in obtaining first-hand information, which must be based on solid field archaeological investigation and excavation to maximize the information contained in the remains;
4. China's rich historical documents are valuable resources, and we must adhere to the research based on archaeological data and combined with historical documents;
5. Any discipline has its limitations, and archaeology is no exception. It is necessary to adhere to the integration with other disciplines (including natural sciences and humanities and social sciences) to jointly carry out research and interpretation of archaeological data;
6. We must adhere to the concept of archaeology for the people, closely integrate archaeological research with the effective protection and rational utilization of cultural heritage, make efforts in the activation of archaeological data, and give full play to the unique role of archaeology in enhancing cultural self-confidence and realizing the great rejuvenation of the nation;
7. China is a part of the world, and Cultural exchanges and mutual learning between China and foreign countries have existed since ancient times. Must have an international perspective and think about ancient China on a large scale in the world;
8. We must adhere to close exchanges and cooperation with the international academic community, actively absorb and learn from the new achievements of the international archaeological community, learn from each other's strong points, and jointly promote the development of world archaeology.
I believe that these 8 points are also the basic ideas for building archaeology with Chinese characteristics.
Read +: In the next hundred years of Chinese archaeology, what do Chinese archaeologists need to do most?
Wang Wei: In the first hundred years of Chinese archaeology, especially through the "Chinese Civilization Source Exploration Project", we have outlined the outline of Chinese civilization for more than 5,000 years, but this is still very different from the "detailed description". For example, each region has its own civilization process, but why do some regions decline while the Central Plains continue to rise? In addition, what are the specific scenarios, specific processes and specific reasons for the integration of each region into the Pattern of the Central Plains? For another example, in terms of the exchange of Chinese and foreign civilizations, wheat, cattle, sheep, and bronze metallurgy spread to the east, and our millet and millet spread to the west, what is the specific way, what route, and what era? These specifics also need to be populated.
A key pillar in addressing these issues is technological progress. For example, if we study the problem of human migration, DNA technology can be finalized. On the other hand, we must carry out multidisciplinary integration, and the archaeological community should work together with researchers in the fields of economy, law, politics, culture, society, ecology, science and technology, and medicine to do a good job in the research and interpretation of excavated cultural relics and sites.
In addition, we must strengthen international exchanges and enhance our influence; we must also let the people understand archaeology in a more vivid and attractive way. That's what we need to do most right now.
In terms of work deployment, at present, we must do a good job in the excavation and research of some important sites, deeply reveal their connotations, study their status and role in the development of civilization, the inventions and creations of the Chinese ancestors it shows, and its exchanges with other regions. In addition, it is necessary to organize the implementation of some major topics, including the fifth stage of "Archaeological China" and "Chinese Civilization Source Exploration Project".
"If this is not the Xia Dynasty, what is it?"
Read +: On the issue of the "Xia Dynasty", has the archaeological community reached a consensus?
Wang Wei: Whether the Xia Dynasty existed or not, we first look at it from the literature. In Sima Qian's "Records of History", the "Xia Benji" about the Xia Dynasty is much more detailed than the previous "Five Emperors Benji", and is similar to the later "Yin Benji"; the Shang Dynasty recorded in the "Yin Benji" has been confirmed by the oracle bones. Therefore, we believe that during the Five Emperors period, Sima Qian's mastery of the material was indeed very limited, so it was written very briefly; and since the "Xia Benji" was written in detail, the content would not be empty.
Judging from the archaeological findings. We have successively discovered the Yin Ruins, the Zhengzhou Shangcheng Ruins, and the Erlitou Ruins, all of which can be connected chronologically. Zhengzhou Mall preceded Yin Ruins and belonged to the early Shang Dynasty; but later than Erlitou, when Erlitou declined, Zhengzhou Shangcheng rose. Then, many of the inventions of the Erlitou culture, including bronze and jade ceremonial vessels, were inherited by the early Shang Dynasty; the distribution area of Erlitou, mainly in southern Shanxi and Henan, had a strong cultural radiation to the surrounding areas, such as Yazhang, and even to southern China and northern Vietnam.
Such a dynasty with strong influence, dating before the Shang Dynasty, and many factors were inherited by the Shang Dynasty, and there were not many large political forces in this area at that time, what is not "Xia"?
It can be said that its geographical distribution, its age, its cultural and political influence have formed a "chain of evidence" pointing to the Xia Dynasty, but no writing has been found. Written material is unattainable, and archaeology often aims to study its age, nature and social conditions without writing. Therefore, we still have to rely on archaeological data to speak. It should be said that historians and archaeologists generally believe that the Erlitou site is the capital of the late Xia Dynasty, and the Erlitou culture is the late Xia Dynasty culture.
People visit the Miaodigou Museum, which showcases Yangshao culture. Photo by Du Jie
Chinese archaeology has made remarkable achievements in the past century
After several generations of archaeologists have continued to struggle, China's archaeological work has made major achievements, extending the historical axis, enhancing historical credibility, enriching historical connotation, and activating historical scenes. To sum up, there are mainly the following aspects.
First, archaeological discoveries show the historical context of the origin and development of Chinese civilization. The major achievements of China's archaeological discoveries have empirically proved the history of mankind for millions of years, the cultural history of 10,000 years, and the history of civilization for more than 5,000 years. The latest archaeological results show that China is the hometown of eastern human beings, along with Africa, the earliest place of human origin; the Beijing ape people invented artificial fire 500,000 years ago, which is one of the earliest in the world; as early as 10,000 years ago, our ancestors planted millet and rice, and the origin of agriculture ranked first with West Asia and North Africa; China's inventions and discoveries in musical instruments, canoes, water conservancy facilities, astronomy and other aspects are also one of the earliest or earliest in the world. The archaeological results also illustrate the formation and development process of the Chinese nation and the Chinese civilization of pluralism and unity, and the integration of home and country, and reveal the values on which Chinese society depends for survival and development and the cultural genes of the Chinese nation that are used daily without awareness.
Second, archaeological discoveries have demonstrated the brilliant achievements of Chinese civilization. China's ancestors have been at the forefront of the world in the development of ancient civilizations in various eras such as the Neolithic Age, the Bronze Age, and the Iron Age, and our ancestors have made amazing achievements in cultivating crops, domesticating wild animals, seeking medical treatment, observing geography, manufacturing tools, creating writing, discovering and inventing science and technology, building villages, creating cities, building and governing the country, and creating and developing culture and art.
Third, archaeological discoveries have demonstrated the great contribution of Chinese civilization to world civilization. Chinese civilization is the only civilization in the world that has continued since ancient times and has never been interrupted. Chinese civilization has contributed to the world a profound ideological system, rich achievements in science and technology, culture and art, and unique system creation, which has profoundly affected the process of world civilization. Ancient Chinese agricultural technology, the "four great inventions", lacquerware, silk, porcelain, pig iron and steel technology, county system, examination system, etc. have distinct originality in the history of world civilization.
Walk through the "Sculpture Wall of a Century-Old Archaeological History"
On the afternoon of October 17, 2021, Wang Wei was surrounded by people in Yangshao Village, Shichi County, Sanmenxia City, Henan Province, to watch the "Sculpture Wall of a Century-Old Archaeological History".
The first group of figures on the sculpture wall belongs to the "sketchers", the most conspicuous of which is Anderson. The Swedish geologist was then a consultant to the Chinese government and a researcher at the Geological Survey Institute of the Ministry of Agriculture and Commerce. In October 1921, with the permission of the Chinese government, Anderson brought people to Yangshao Village and conducted 36 days of formal archaeological excavations, excavating a total of 17 excavation sites and unearthing a large number of exquisite pottery, stone tools, bone and mussels and other precious relics. Anderson realized that this was a new type of prehistoric culture and named it "Yangshao culture" according to international academic practice. The "Yangshao culture" is not only the first prehistoric culture recognized in China through archaeological discoveries, but also fills the gap in the understanding that there was no Neolithic era in China at that time, and modern Chinese archaeology was born.
Wang Wei told the Yangtze River Daily Reading + reporter: "In the past, there was no archaeology in China, only epigraphy, and Anderson brought a set of fieldwork methods, using geology to study soil layers and chronology, surveying, excavating and sorting out reports." ”
Anderson made a false judgment from the correct material that the Yangshao culture may not have originated indigenously, but was imported from Central Asia.
"Chinese culture in the West" stung many Chinese scholars at that time, and also stimulated their enthusiasm for reconstructing ancient history through archaeological data. China's first generation of archaeologists Li Ji, Dong Zuobin, Liang Siyong and others went to many places, "on the poor and blue fell to the Yellow Spring, hands and feet to find things."
In 1926, Li Ji presided over the excavation of the ruins of Xiyin Village in Xia County, Shanxi, which was the first archaeological excavation independently presided over by Chinese.
In 1927, excavations of the Zhoukoudian site complex in Beijing unearthed Homo erectus fossils, the first Paleolithic site found in China.
In 1928, Liang Siyong presided over the excavation of The Yin Ruins in Anyang.
In 1936, Shi Xin excavated the ruins of Liangzhu Ancient City in Zhejiang Province, the largest prehistoric city site in China, known as "the first city in China", and unearthed exquisite jade ceremonial vessels such as jade quinces, nearly a thousand years earlier than the anyang Yin Ruins site.
...... This solid work was engraved on the "Sculpture Wall of a Century of Archaeological History"; Anderson later changed his erroneous views.
The second group of characters is a generation of the founding sect of Chinese archaeology, who inherited the past and the future, passed on the torch, and began to use Chinese discourse and Marxist views to establish a system of Chinese archaeology, and each name shone brightly: Xia Nai, Su Bingqi, An Zhimin, Su Bai...
Their achievements are also engraved on the wall —
1954 Xi'an Banpo Ruins;
1956 Zhengzhou Shangcheng Ruins;
1959 Henan Yanshi Erlitou Ruins, which is the earliest remains of Miyagi Castle in China;
In 1977, the site of Pei Ligang in Xinzheng, Henan, which is the source of Yangshao culture, advanced China's agricultural civilization by more than 1,000 years.
In 1978, the site of the Tao Temple in Shanxi Province, where the world's oldest observatory and China's oldest musical instrument were discovered...
The third group of characters has no name, their faces are younger and more vigorous, they are the new force of Chinese archaeology, and their achievements are rewriting the history of Chinese civilization.
In 1990, the ruins of xiaoshan cross-lake bridge in Zhejiang, 1000 years before the hemudu site, discovered a canoe known as "China's first boat";
In 2007, the "Nanhai No. 1" Southern Song Dynasty shipwreck was salvaged as a whole. This is the earliest, largest and best-preserved ocean-going trading merchant ship among the shipwrecks found at sea in the world so far.
This "Century-old Archaeological History Sculpture Wall" records 70 events that have an important impact on China's century-old archaeology, and was selected by the Chinese Archaeological Society among more than 160 sites registered for the national election.
At the end of the sculpture wall is Wang Wei's "Afterword": "Chinese archaeology began with the excavation of Yangshao Village in 1921,...... Brilliant achievements have been made, and have played an extremely important role in studying ancient Chinese history, empirically verifying Chinese civilization for more than 5,000 years, displaying the brilliant achievements of Chinese civilization and its contribution to world civilization, revealing the formation process of a unified multi-ethnic state, and enhancing national cultural self-confidence..."
Walking through the "Sculpture Wall of a Century-Old Archaeological History", on the field of Yangshao, the fourth excavation of the yangshao village site is underway.
100 years later, Chinese archaeologists are still searching up and down and forging ahead.
(Yangtze River Daily reporter Li Xu)
Historical reliability
Archaeology as a science follows the research methods of human science.
The predecessor of Chinese archaeology is epigraphy, that is, ancient bronzes and stone inscriptions are the main research objects, focusing on bibliography and examination of written materials. Epigraphy has complex research methods, but its role is only to supplement the history of scriptures, and it is in an academic subordinate position, and the scope of research is relatively narrow.
In 1921, the excavation of the site of Yangshao Village opened the prelude to modern Chinese archaeology. Over the past 100 years, the Chinese archaeological community has conducted field archaeological surveys and excavations many times, and found a large number of cultural sites.
Archaeology should comprehensively use various disciplinary means such as humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences to empirically prove the history of civilization. As the technologies available to archaeology become more and more developed, the face of history will become more and more clearly presented. With the development of science, modern archaeology has been supported by emerging technologies such as genetics, dating technology, and artificial intelligence, and more mysterious civilizations have been lifted.
Archaeology, a point of evidence says a point of words. Over the past hundred years, Chinese archaeology has revealed the continuation and inheritance of five thousand years of civilization history with solid archaeological materials, extended the historical axis, enhanced the credibility of history, and allowed Chinese civilization to enter the genealogy of human civilization with a scientific appearance. (Xiao Chang)
【Editor: He Equation】
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