Beijing, March 31 (China News Service) -- As early as the final evaluation, some insiders used "fairy fight" to describe the project selection of China's top ten new archaeological discoveries in 2021.
The early stone silkworm pupa excavated from the Shicun site in Xia County, Shanxi, is the earliest image of the silkworm pupae found in China; the ancient rice field at the Shi'ao site in Yuyao, Zhejiang is the largest, oldest, most complete cultural series and most well-documented rice farming relics found in the world; the Zhouyuan site in Baoji, Shaanxi provides evidence for confirming the national center of the pre-Zhou Dynasty, and further proves that Zhouyuan was the place where the father of the ancient Gonggong moved to Qi, and the high-grade mound tomb group of Qujiang Zhou in Zhejiang is most likely the wangling area of the Gu Contempt State. Filling the gap in the archaeological research of the Gu Contempt Country... Although these projects are unfortunately not selected as the top ten new archaeological discoveries in the country in 2021, it can be seen that the strength and influence of the top ten projects selected are strong and influential.
Data map: Aerial photo of the ancient rice field at the Shi'ao site in Yuyao, Zhejiang. (Drone photo) China News Service reporter Wang Gang photographed
For example, the Sanxingdui site in Sichuan, which is known as "waking up again and shocking the world", pointed out that chen Xingcan, director of the Institute of Archaeology of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, pointed out that the site further empirically and explained the basic understanding that "ancient Shu civilization is an important part of Chinese civilization"; the much-concerned Jiangcun Tomb has determined the exact location of the Han Emperor's Mausoleum, providing detailed archaeological data for the formation, development and evolution of the Western Han Emperor Mausoleum system The hand axe, thin-bladed axe and other relics found at the Pirlo site in Daocheng, Sichuan Province, are the remains of the Asheli technique, the highest in the world, which has drawn a rest for the international debate on the "Movis Line" that has lasted for more than half a century, and Zhao Hui, a professor at the School of Archaeology and Literature of Peking University, regards it as a huge treasure.
The picture shows the gold mask excavated from Pit 5 of the sacrifice area of the Guanghan Sanxingdui site in Sichuan. Courtesy of the State Administration of Cultural Heritage
Looking at these projects in the context of the centenary of Chinese archaeology in 2021, it may be possible to feel more deeply.
The first official archaeological excavation of the Yangshao Village site in 1921 marked the birth of modern Chinese archaeology. By 2021, the State Administration of Cultural Heritage of China will approve more than 1,700 archaeological excavation projects in accordance with the law. With the development of China's economy and society, more and more archaeological projects are transformed from passive excavation to active excavation in the process of capital construction, and the rice field archaeology at the Shi'ao site is an example of this aspect, and there is always the participation of scientific and technological archaeologists in the whole process of work.
Song Xinchao, deputy director of the State Administration of Cultural Heritage, also stressed that "archaeology is not a treasure dug up by a cymbal in the imagination of the people, not only is the accumulation of long-term work of archaeologists, the result of excavations at a site for more than ten years, but also with problems and topics, aimed at solving historical and cultural problems, not simply 'digging treasure'." ”
In fact, in recent years, the State Administration of Cultural Heritage has implemented major projects such as comprehensive research on archaeology in China, the origin and early development of Chinese civilization, and coordinated the promotion of 241 active archaeological projects, all of which are aimed at explaining "why China", tracing the origin and development process of Chinese civilization, empirically verifying the 5,000-year history of Chinese civilization, and explaining the historical process of Chinese civilization from pluralism to great unification.
Multidisciplinary cooperation has also become a major feature of the development of Chinese archaeology so far. Paleoanthropology, chronology, environmental archaeology, human bone DNA, jade lithology analysis, plants and other disciplines of cross-cooperation, carbon fourteen dating, residue analysis, process technology analysis, origin analysis, geological environment research and other scientific and technological means are widely integrated, for archaeologists to more comprehensively obtain site information, more in-depth understanding of the relevant situation of ancient society provides convenience.
Song Xinchao revealed that the State Administration of Cultural Heritage will also issue and implement the "Fourteenth Five-Year Plan for Archaeological Work" in the near future, focusing on tackling major historical issues and striving to make new breakthroughs; implementing the "archaeology first, then selling" system to protect and inherit the historical context; vigorously developing scientific and technological archaeology and promoting the application of modern science and technology in archaeology; strengthening the construction of institutional teams and continuously expanding professional forces; deepening international archaeological cooperation and exchanges, promoting exchanges and mutual learning among civilizations, and striving to build archaeology with Chinese characteristics, Chinese style, and Chinese style. (End)