Around the time of the May 4th Movement (a political and cultural
movement that arose in Beijing in 1919 as a reaction against
imperialism and feudalism) Western ideas were making their way into
China.
Alongside the introduction of new concepts of science and democracy
from the West came the Euro-centric notion that Chinese culture had
its roots in the West. This was trumpeted so loudly by the Western
scholars of the day that many Chinese intellectuals began to waiver
in their convictions as to the origins and evolution of ancient
Chinese civilization.
It
was against this background that some Chinese scholars became
inspired to work to reestablish the national sense of
self-confidence by tracing the true historical roots of Chinese
culture.
And so in the 1920s and 1930s the first field work at Zhoukoudian
in Beijing and Yinxu in Henan Province heralded the beginnings of
archaeology in China.
No
sooner had the People’s Republic of China been founded in 1949 than
the central government set up the State Administration of Cultural
Heritage and brought in legislation to preserve the nation’s
historical relics.
During the 1950s and 1960s work resumed at Zhoukoudian and Yinxu
and Chinese archaeologists undertook large-scale field surveys and
excavations at various prehistoric sites. These included Banpo,
Beishouling, Miaodigou, Qujialing and Dawenkou.
They investigated Erlitou, Zhengzhou and Fenggao dating back to the
Shang (c.2100-1600 BC) and the Western Zhou (c.1100-771 BC); Houma
from the Jin (265-420); the Chang’an city site of the Western Han
(206 BC- AD 25) and Tang (618-907) and Yuandadu built during the
Yuan Dynasty (1279-1368).
When a complete chariot pit came to light at Liulige in Hui County,
Henan Province, it amazed archaeological circles around the
world.
After 1976, archaeology in China saw rapid development. The
Archaeological Society of China was established in April 1979.
The Yellow River and Yangtze River valleys have attracted
particular attention from archaeologists, as have the prehistoric
sites of the southwest frontiers and northern deserts.
Increasing frequent academic exchanges with foreign institutions
have helped introduce the technology necessary to facilitate such
new fields of study as underwater and aerial archaeology.
Since the well-known Zhoukoudian cave site was first excavated in
the 1920s, many finds of early human fossils and Paleolithic sites
have made China an important center for research into human origins
and evolution.
Through systematic field survey and careful excavation, Chinese
paleoanthropologists have been successful in lifting the veil on
the way of life, means of survival and evolutionary path followed
by Homo erectus, Homo sapiens and Homo sapiens
in the area over the past one or two million years.
Archaeological investigations into the Neolithic period based on
many years of fieldwork have shown conclusively that agriculture
had started in China more than 10,000 years ago.
Research into the evolution of prehistoric settlements has made
much headway with discoveries at village sites such as Banpo in
Xi’an and Jiangzhai in Lintong, Shaanxi Province.
Discoveries of Neolithic cultures at Hongshan, Liangzhu, Longshan
and elsewhere have drawn worldwide attention to the origins of
Chinese civilization.
Excavating cities and grand tombs have brought the life of ancient
societies back into the light of day. Historical insights have been
gleaned from finds of inscribed tortoise shell and animal bone,
bamboo slips and many texts written on silk. Archaeologists have
extended their scientific enquiry to ancient mines, kilns,
workshops and bridges and to ships sunk in antiquity.
Working alongside the major civil engineering and construction
projects fuelled by the country’s now rapid economic development,
archaeologists have in recent years dedicated themselves to saving
endangered cultural relics.
The achievements of Chinese Archaeology have captured the
imagination of the world. They make an impressive list: from
Neolithic Banpo; Sanxingdui
in Guanghan, Sichuan Province; the Qinshihuang Mausoleum (tomb of
the first Qin Emperor) with its famous guardian terracotta warriors
and horses; the Yungang Grottoes in Datong, Shanxi Province; the
Dunhuang Grottoes in Gansu Province; ancient Luoyang City from the
Sui and Tang dynasties and Beijing’s Dingling (tomb of the Ming
Emperor Zhu Yijun). It is a list which seems to just go on and
on.
Archaeologists have presented the story of the development of
Chinese civilization from its early beginnings right through to
maturity and prosperity.
(China.org.cn by Shao Da, February 6, 2003)