The Yangshao culture geometric fish-pattern painted pottery gourd bottle displayed at the "Starry Sky - China's Top 100 Archaeological Discoveries in a Hundred Years Exhibition".
Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Li An
Western Han Zhuo Jinbo Mountain Furnace, Hebei Museum Collection.
Photo courtesy of Zhengzhou Museum
Since the excavation of the site of Yangshao Village in Henan Province in 1921, modern Chinese archaeology has gone through more than 100 years. Several generations of archaeologists have continued to struggle, "falling from the Yellow Spring to the Yellow Spring, and moving their hands and feet to find things", cracking the civilization codes one by one, and empirically proving China's millions of years of human history, 10,000 years of cultural history, and more than 5,000 years of civilization history.
The "Starry Sky - China's Top 100 Archaeological Discoveries in a Hundred Years" held in the Wenhan Street Pavilion of Zhengzhou Museum of Henan Province takes the "Top 100 Archaeological Discoveries in 100 Years" selected in 2021 as the main line, and displays the development process and brilliant achievements of Chinese archaeology over the past century through representative cultural relics excavated from 100 sites, showing the long history and splendid culture of the Chinese nation. At the same time, the "Civilization Yuan Shao - Henan Hundred Archaeological Discoveries in a Century Exhibition" was launched, which brought together 889 pieces / groups of fine cultural relics from 79 archaeological and cultural museum units in 21 provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities across the country, including 115 first-class cultural relics / groups, some of which were displayed to the public for the first time.
Touch the ancient roots
Walking into the first unit of the exhibition, "Ancient Roots - Paleolithic Archaeological Discoveries", 5 cultural relics unearthed from Paleolithic sites will lead the audience's thoughts to the distant history. Archaeological discoveries prove that as early as more than 2 million years ago, ancient humans lived on the land of China. Ancient humans, represented by the Yuanmou Ape Man, the Lantian Ape and the Beijing Ape Man, are the ancestors of modern Chinese.
"This is a fossil replica of the skull of 'Peking Man' III, and the original was unearthed at site 1 of the Zhoukoudian site in Beijing." Ding Junyan, a docent at the Zhengzhou Museum, pointed to the exhibits in the independent showcase. In December 1929, archaeologist Pei Wenzhong excavated the first complete skull fossil of "Peking Man" in Zhoukoudian, and more fossils have been discovered since then. The discovery of the "Peking Man" fossils has caused a sensation in the international academic community, not only providing important physical evidence for the theory of evolution from apes to humans, but also pushing forward the history of human evolution by hundreds of thousands of years. In the early 40s of last century, in order to protect these precious ancient human fossils from being damaged in the war, Chinese scholars decided to transfer them to the American museum for temporary storage. However, during transportation, the fossils were lost and their whereabouts are still unknown. Fortunately, before the fossils were transported, the researchers rushed to create a batch of models. What we see today is the restored model left behind in those years, from which we can roughly understand the true face of "Pekingese".
The discovery of more than 2,000 Paleolithic sites, such as the site of Yuanmou people in Yunnan, the site of Lantian people in Shaanxi, the site of Zhoukoudian in Beijing, the site of Jinniu Mountain in Yingkou, Liaoning, and the site of Xiangfending Village in Shanxi, covering various stages from 2.1 million to 10,000 years ago, restored the sequence of Chinese Paleolithic cultural development, and basically clarified the origin of the earliest human beings in China and the process of the origin and evolution of modern humans.
Explore the source of Chinese civilization
In the second unit, "Exploring the Source of Chinese Civilization - Neolithic Archaeological Discoveries", Dadiwan culture flower leaf pattern painted pottery pots, Majiayao culture frog pattern pots and other brilliantly decorated pottery, showing the rich artistic creativity of the Chinese ancestors. In front of a Yangshao culture painted clay pot, a circle of people watched. The faience pot is reddish-brown in color, with an open belly and a flat bottom on the lower abdomen. The lower part of the outer wall is plain, and the upper part is a pattern frieze composed of six-pointed star patterns, dot patterns, curved triangles, etc. in white clothes and black colors.
"This painted pottery pot was unearthed at the site of the double locust tree in Gongyi, Henan, and is a representative artifact of the Yangshao culture." Ding Junyan said that in the middle and late Yangshao culture, such faience ornamental elements spread throughout most of the Yellow River Basin, marking the formation of the "early Chinese cultural circle". The site of Shuanghuashu is a site with the nature of a capital in the Yellow River Basin in the middle and late Yangshao culture, known as the "Heluo Ancient Kingdom", showing the complete form of Nongsang civilization in the Central Plains more than 5,300 years ago.
The discovery of Yangshao culture wrote the brilliant prelude to the civilization of "early China". From the Yellow River Basin to the Yangtze River Basin, from the northeast to the southwest, endless archaeological discoveries are like stars in the sky, reflecting the territory of early Chinese civilization. The 33 Neolithic archaeological discoveries presented in the exhibition reflect the long history of the origin and formation of Chinese civilization between 13,000 and 4,000 years ago.
Get a taste of bronze culture
"This bronze medal inlaid with turquoise beast face pattern was excavated from the site of Erlitou in Henan Province, and the beast face pattern is inlaid with turquoise pieces on the shield-shaped bronze base, which is still intact and does not fall off after more than 3,000 years, reflecting a superb level of craftsmanship." The docent's introduction aroused the admiration of the audience. Turquoise is a precious ore, which was mostly set in divine plaques and ceremonial weapons in the early days. This bronze plaque with inlaid turquoise was excavated from the chest to the abdomen of the tomb owner, with two symmetrical ring buttons on either side, presumably sewn for use on fabric. The animal face pattern on the plaque reflects the aesthetics and beliefs of the ancients, and similar ornaments appear on earlier prehistoric artifacts and later Shang and Zhou bronzes.
The third unit of the exhibition is entitled "Showing Three Generations of Kingdom Civilization - Archaeological Discoveries of Xia Shang Zhou". The Xia Shang Dynasty was a period when Chinese civilization was initially finalized. The discovery of Yanshi Erlitou, Zhengzhou Mall, Yanshi Mall, Anyang Yin Hui, Zhouyuan Ruins, Fenghao Capital Ruins and many ruins of the Eastern Zhou Kingdoms highlight the brilliant bronze civilization and ritual system of the Xia Shang Zhou.
Simu Xin Mo excavated from the Yin Hui Nuhao Tomb in Anyang, Henan, tiger-eared tiger-shaped flat-footed bronze ding excavated from the site of Xingan Oceania in Ji'an, Jiangxi, and bronze head with a gold mask unearthed from the Sanxingdui site in Guanghan, Sichuan... These cultural relics, which also belong to the Shang Dynasty, show the characteristics of bronze culture in different regions. Simu Xin has a majestic shape, with a standing beast in front and a bird shape in the back. The double horns on the head of the animal are naturally curled, the middle ridge to the tail is curly dragon-shaped, and the tail is decorated with bow-shaped whiskers. The body is covered with coiled dragon snake patterns and bird patterns, adding a magnificent and mysterious feeling. There is an inscription "Si Mu Xin" in both the lid and body, "Si" is a sacrifice (one says queen), "mother" refers to the mother and queen mother, and "Xin" is its temple number. Simu Xinxi is a sacrificial vessel made by the descendants of King Wuding of Shang for his mother and wife, and is of great value for the study of late Shang bronze casting, ceremonial system, and royal inheritance.
"The music of 'Dongfang Hong' played by China's first artificial earth satellite was played by this set of bronze chimes." Ding Junyan introduced that in 1957, archaeologists first discovered a complete pre-Qin period bronze bell in the Chu Tomb No. 1 of Changtaiguan, Xinyang, Henan Province (now part of the Chengyang City Site Protection Area). There are 13 chimes in this set, decreasing in size and weight, with a solemn and simple shape and exquisite ornamentation. Amazingly, although they have been buried in the ground for more than 2,000 years, they are so intact that even tiny corrosive rust flakes cannot be found. The study found that the chimes were close in tone to the current International Phonetic Alphabet and could play modern musical works. In addition, it also has the function of "one bell and two tones", and hitting the front drum part and the side drum part of the bell body will produce different sounds. Experts used this set of chimes to beat a song "Dongfang Red" and recorded the notes. In 1970, China's first artificial earth satellite was successfully launched, and "Dongfang Hong" played by this ancient instrument resounded in space with the satellite.
Show the atmosphere of a big country
Hainai Liuhe, Qin and Han unification. The pattern of a unified feudal empire formed since the Qin and Han dynasties has lasted for more than 2,000 years, and the collision and blending of multi-ethnic cultures has merged into a magnificent epic. In the fourth unit of the exhibition, "Revealing the Formation and Development of a Unified Multi-ethnic State - Archaeological Discoveries in the Qin and Han Dynasties and Beyond", one cultural relic vividly shows the atmosphere of a great power in various eras.
The Terracotta Army of the Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor in Shaanxi is known as one of the "Eight Wonders of the World", and the mighty and majestic terracotta army array reproduces the majestic momentum of the six countries unified by Qin. The high-grade armored military figurine excavated from the No. 1 pit of the Qinling Terracotta Army, dressed in colorful fish scale armor, with both hands in the shape of a sword, with 8 colorful flower knots on the front chest, back and shoulders, a rectangular face, a thick whisker on each cheek, long hair and dashing hair, strong physique, high head and chest, showing the demeanor of a general who commands well. There are few high-ranking military warriors excavated in the terracotta army pits, which is of great significance for studying the Qin military formation system.
The tomb of King Jing in Zhongshan, Mancheng, Hebei Province is a major archaeological discovery of the Han Dynasty, and a large number of exquisite cultural relics unearthed in the tomb fully reflect the highly developed material civilization of the Western Han Dynasty and the wisdom and creativity of the working people at that time. The furnace excavated from the Mancheng Han Tomb is decorated with the image of three dragons coming out of the water, and the upper part of the furnace plate and the lid cast undulating, tall and steep mountains, and mythical beasts and characters haunt it, forming beautiful natural mountain scenery and vivid hunting scenes. The furnace body and plate base are respectively cast and riveted with iron nails, and the whole body is decorated with a wrong gold cirrus cloud pattern, and the pattern is smooth and natural. Boshan stove is a utensil used for incense in the room. The lid of the furnace is perforated by the mountain situation, and after the spices are ignited, smoke rises from the openwork, producing the effect of fairy land and the spirit of the beasts. This furnace combines various elements such as immortal mountains, seas, divine dragons, and exotic beasts, which not only reflects the belief system of the Han Dynasty, but also reflects the temperament of the Han Dynasty of "encompassing the universe and encompassing the four seas".
The tomb beasts of the Tang Dynasty Sancai Human-faced Town were colorful and lifelike, attracting the attention of reporters. The town tomb beast has horns on its head and wings on its side, its head has a fierce expression, and the beast body is seated, which is a typical image of a town tomb beast in the Tang Dynasty. This Sancai Town tomb beast was unearthed in the tomb of An Bo and his wife in Longmen, Luoyang, Henan. An Bo was a Sogdian, followed his father to the Tang Dynasty, and was named the official of Wupin Jing and the general of Dingyuan for his bravery and good fighting and defending the frontier, and the tombstone was engraved with "An Junzhi, General of Dingyuan of the Great Tang". An Bo was born in the Western Regions, died in Chang'an, and was buried in Luoyang, and his life is quite legendary. His story is the epitome of the openness and inclusiveness of the Tang Dynasty, and also reflects the formation and development of a unified multi-ethnic country from the side.
A hundred years of archaeology, fruitful. The pages of history that archaeological science has discovered on the land of China have brought us self-confidence and the strength to move forward. (Ren Shengli)
Source: People's Daily Overseas Edition