"This year's selection, the competition is very fierce, 2021 is indeed a big year of archaeology!" At about 11:00 a.m. today (March 31), Wang Wei, chairman of the Chinese Archaeological Society, told Red Star News. When the reporter dialed his phone, the press conference of the top ten new archaeological discoveries in the country in 2021 had just ended.
According to reports, the judges of the final appraisal committee were randomly selected from the expert pool of the review committee by drawing lots. There are 21 judges, namely Chai Xiaoming, Chen Xingcan, Dong Xinlin, Gao Xing, Hang Kan, Huo Wei, Li Boqian, Li Rang, Li Shuicheng, Li Xinwei, Liu Qingzhu, Luan Fengshi, Song Jianzhong, Song Xinchao, Sun Hua, Wang Wei, Wang Weilin, Xin Lixiang, Yan Yalin, Zhang Jianlin and Zhao Hui (in alphabetical order).
The 21 expert judges, from the Institute of Archaeology of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, the Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the National Museum of China, Peking University, Shandong University, Sichuan University, Shanxi University, Yungang Grotto Research Institute, Shaanxi Provincial Archaeological Research Institute, Chinese Cultural Heritage Research Institute, Archaeological Research Center of the State Administration of Cultural Heritage, China Cultural Relics Newspaper, State Administration of Cultural Heritage and other departments and units, are all authoritative scholars in their respective academic fields.
Wang Wei, chairman of the Chinese Archaeological Society
Wang Wei told reporters that after yesterday's day of review, at 8:30 this morning, the judges began to formally vote, and by 9:30 a.m. the top ten new discoveries of this year were rated. About half an hour later, a formal press conference was held.
Compared with previous years' selections, Wang Wei lamented that this year's competition is extremely fierce. "Among the 20 items in the final evaluation, we think that at least 15 or 16 items should be on the list, but the number of places is really limited, and this year we are in a pile!"
Why there is a phenomenon of powerful players gathering together, Wang Wei believes that to some extent, it is related to the 100th anniversary of the birth of modern Chinese archaeology in 2021. "We all hope to be able to present valuable results in this commemorative year. So 2021 is really a big year for archaeology, and it can even be said to be the 'biggest' year! ”
As we all know, because archaeology is a long-lasting work, a site project can be carried out for several years, archaeologists choose when to submit the progress of the work, and to some extent, they can also choose the timing. Then, when everyone is coming up with a "housekeeper baby" in 2021, the competition is naturally extremely fierce.
In 2020, Henan's performance was the most eye-catching: the Gongyi Shuanghuashu Site, the Huaiyang Shizhuang Ruins and the Yichuan Xuyang Cemetery were selected. Wang Wei also said that it is indeed very rare, "It just so happens that it is very important, and it is also a coincidence." ”
According to Wang Wei, the judges usually have a consensus: try to avoid too much concentration of projects in a certain province, and each province generally focuses on one item for the sake of concentrating votes. But these two items selected by Sichuan this year are indeed very important, and it is unlikely that either one will be abandoned. "Balance is a consideration, but the importance of scholarship and meaning is the first thing we consider. As long as the value and meaning are enough, they will vote. ”
In Wang Wei's view, the importance of the Pilo site is naturally unquestionable, "its historical information and international influence can not be ignored - it ends the debate of the 'Morvis Line', fills a key gap and missing link in the Asheli technical system, connects the Indo-Pakistani subcontinent, the north and south of China to the Korean Peninsula, and the Asheli cultural communication belt, which has special value and significance for understanding the migration of ancient people and the exchange of cultural communication." ”
As for Sanxingdui, that's even more indisputable. Although Wang Wei said that the judges' specific voting situation was confidential, the election of Samsung Pile with a high vote was real. In his eyes, Sanxingdui has several "most", making its selection deserved.
"The first is the most mysterious, and everyone can imagine a thousand things from the strangely shaped and imaginative excavated artifacts. The public's various views and speculations on Sanxingdui are also the most famous sites in China. Wang Wei said.
"Secondly, the most abundant relics have been unearthed, with hundreds or thousands of pieces in a pit, which is really unprecedented." Of course, this has something to do with the fact that these artifacts were consciously piled up and buried. ”
Third, the means of excavation, protection and dissemination, as well as the facilities, are the most advanced. "The high-tech archaeological greenhouse and the square cabin can be said to have used the most comprehensive and advanced means that can be used." There are also several rounds of live broadcasts of CCTV, the focus of the national media, and the spread is too strong! Wang Wei is still impressed by the camera on the 18-meter long rocker arm, "Shooting only twenty or thirty centimeters away from the cultural relics, so high-definition pictures, it is simply too addictive to watch."
This brings us to the fourth "most" – the highest social attention. "The number of more than 7 billion online hits is also unprecedented. I'm already looking forward to the next round of live streaming at Samsung. Wang Wei said.
Red Star News reporter Qiao Xueyang pictured according to the interviewee
Edited by Duan Xueying
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