The large-scale documentary series "Ancient China: Rice Valleys", jointly produced by China Central Radio and Television Station and the State Administration of Cultural Heritage, will be broadcast on CCTV-1 at 22:30 from August 14, and will premiere on CCTV's flagship new media platform "CCTV".
The 5-episode documentary will prove through the latest results of archaeological research that the mainland is the first country in the world to cultivate rice, and trace the development trajectory of rice culture in 10,000 years, telling the historical story of rice cultivation spreading widely across thousands of mountains and rivers, benefiting the world and giving birth to civilization, witnessing the origin and development of Chinese rice civilization and the major contribution of Chinese rice to human society.
Rice is one of the world's main food crops today, but more than 10,000 years ago, rice was only the seed of weeds near water. From "leaving the grass on the plain" to "hard work", who was the first to peel the solid husk of rice and discover the secret that rice can be eaten? Who was the first to sow the seeds of hope and pour the fragrance of rice into the long scroll of history?
Phytolithic - tiny particles that can only be seen under the microscope, are the "fossils" of plant cells. Archaeologists have discovered wild rice and cultivated rice plant lithium in the strata of Jiangxi Wannian Xianren Cave and Hanging Barrel Ring site more than 10,000 years ago. This discovery traces the history of human domestication and cultivation of rice to about 12,000 years, and proves that the ancient Chinese ancestors were the first to grow rice.
Fragments of pottery kettle excavated at the site of Jingtou Mountain in Yuyao, Zhejiang
A fragment of a pottery kettle unearthed at the site of Jingtou Mountain in Yuyao, Zhejiang Province, was stained with a large area of food residue and was identified as rice after testing. Archaeologists analyzed that about 8,000 years ago, Jingtou Mountain ancestors used clay kettles as cooking vessels to steam or cook rice, so there was a residue similar to pots on the clay kettles. This fragment of a rice-bearing clay kettle discovered for the first time in Jingtou Mountain proves that the Jingtou Mountain site, which features the marine shell mound culture, also retains a deep imprint of rice culture.
Turquoise was unearthed at the Nanzuo site in Qingyang, Gansu
Double belly basin excavated from the Nanzuo site in Qingyang, Gansu
The turquoise and double-belly basins unearthed at the Nanzuo site in Qingyang, Gansu, are the first archaeological results publicly disclosed. Behind it is an ancient capital 5,000 years ago. The most surprising thing is that a considerable amount of carbonized rice has been found at the Longdongnanzuo site, which is not the main rice-producing area. Where does Nanzo's rice come from? How did Little Rice witness the integration and development of civilizations in the Yangtze River Basin and the Yellow River Basin in interaction?
Archaeologists study spikelet shafts
Archaeologists study carbonized rice
Relying on rich and solid archaeological exploration and the latest research results, "Records of Ancient China: Rice Valley" systematically combs the clues and contents related to rice cultivation in cultural sites such as Xianren Cave and Hanging Barrel Ring, Shangshan, Jingtou Mountain, Cross Lake Bridge, Jiahu, Hemudu, Chengtou Mountain, Jiahu, Hemudu, Chengtou Mountain, Jiahucheng, Liangzhu, Liangcheng, Erlitou, Nanzuo and other cultural sites, showing the origin, spread and magnificent picture of the evolution of rice civilization.
Rice originated in China and has taken root in many parts of the world for the benefit of mankind. Today, rice is grown in Asia, Europe, the Americas, Africa and Oceania. The FAO representative in China spoke highly of China's rice planting, dissemination and promotion.
Adhering to the candle of science and technology, seeking the dawn of civilization, scientific and technological archaeology provides empirical support for the research on rice domestication and the origin of rice agriculture. "Ancient China: Rice Records" visualizes the rare concepts of rice phytolithic and spikelet shaft in scientific and technological archaeological achievements; Through vivid demonstration and interpretation, the flotation method, rice phytolithic density analysis method and other technical means are in-depth and interesting.
The creative team of "Ancient China: Rice Records" went to 26 cities in Zhejiang, Hunan, Jiangxi, Henan, Gansu, Shandong and other places, and deeply photographed 13 archaeological sites and 24 museums. The film also displays dozens of rich cultural relics. They string together the history of China's 10,000-year-old rice cultivation culture, and interpret the origin and early development of rice cultivation civilization from their own perspectives.
"Ancient China: Rice Valley" continues to deepen the creative concept of "thought + art + technology", and uses new technologies to restore Neolithic cultural sites such as Shangshan, Nanzuo, Liangcheng and Chengtou Mountain, as well as important cultural relics such as split combination stone plows, allowing the audience to relive history and appreciate civilization in the "journey" of sitting thousands of miles and 10,000 years.
CCTV.com and other new media platforms of CCTV will broadcast "Ancient China: Rice Valley" simultaneously with CCTV-1.
Source: CCTV News, China Central Radio and Television Corporation