On January 13, the Archaeology Research Institute of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS) revealed six new archaeological discoveries made in China during 2008.
They include the Neolithic Age ruins in Yangguanzhai Village, in Gaoling County, Shaanxi Province; the Qi family heritage tomb in Chenqi Village of Mogou Town, in Lintan County, Gansu Province; the prehistoric ruins at Haimenkou, in Jianchuan County, Yunnan Province; the Yinxu ruins in the northern area of Liujiazhuang Village, in Anyang City, Henan Province; the No. 1 burial grounds of the Spring and Autumn Period in Shuangdun Village, in Bengbu City, Anhui Province; and the ruins of the Liao Dynasty ancestral burial grounds in Balinzuo Banner, Inner Mongolia.
These six sites were selected from over 100 archaeological discoveries made in 2008.
According to Wang Wei, head of the Archaeology Research Institute of CASS, the annual evaluation of new archaeological discoveries is not based on the appearance of the ruins and artifacts unearthed, nor on whether or not the archaeological sites are grandiose or large in size. Focus is placed instead on the scientific value and historical and cultural messages that come with the discovery, as well as on if new concepts and methodologies of archaeological excavation were used.
Wang Wei also pointed out that most of the six archaeological discoveries were found during rescue excavations organized in conjunction with infrastructure construction.
With the rapid development of China's economy and society, these types of excavations have become mainstream in Chinese archaeology work.
By People's Daily Online
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