Hello again, Global Impact readers:
China’s Terracotta Army of warriors, chariots and horses became one of the most well-known archaeological discoveries in the world when it was unearthed by farmers in 1974.
The find still holds that level of interest to this day, but in China, new treasures are seemingly being unearthed every day due to an injection of resources, after a rallying cry from the Chinese president towards the end of last year highlighted the field’s cultural importance in modern China.
This week, Kevin McSpadden, a production editor on the People and Culture desk here at the SCMP, digs into what is fast becoming a national obsession in China.
Best,
Andrew Mullen
Production Editor, Political EconomyArchaeology in China is more than just the Terracotta Army as resources flood in
A high-profile letter sent in October 2021 told us everything we needed to know about the state of modern Chinese archaeology.
Sent by Chinese President Xi Jinping to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the discovery of the Yangshao culture – considered the start of modern Chinese archaeology – the letter called for “developing archaeology with Chinese features, style and ethos” so the field could contribute to “national rejuvenation”.
Regardless of the diverging opinions about the rhetoric, the letter demonstrated the increased social, political and economic importance of the scientific field in China.
It is not that archaeology was ever unimportant; the discovery of the Terracotta Army in 1974 is still probably the most iconic Chinese discovery of the past 100 years. But, as China’s economy continues to grow, the sheer volume of resources being poured into the field has become remarkable.
Take, for example, the excavation site at the Sanxingdui ruins in Sichuan province, a site that has revealed so many spectacular ruins that it has begun to rival many of China’s most iconic historical landmarks.
The excavation pits have been turned into full-blown glass-walled laboratories that include the ability to control the temperature and humidity of the air at the dig site.
Compare this to the first time the ruins were excavated in 1986. That team only had some spare tools, one camera to share between them, and they transported all of the artefacts using bicycles.
Politically, archaeology has played an essential role in building or deconstructing important narratives of Chinese history. A major discovery can transform an area’s tourism, meaning local officials are often on the hunt for an exciting piece of Chinese history in their hometowns that they can advertise.
While officials cannot plan for a discovery like the Sanxingdui ruins, it can be transformative if they are lucky enough to unearth a discovery of this scale. In 2018, the Sanxingdui Archaeology Museum received almost 964,000 visitors, generating 40 million yuan (US$6.3 million) in revenue.
A more minor recent example can be found in a village named Guanzhuang, outside of Zhengzhou, the capital of Henan province, which may now be able to boast itself as the home of the world’s first coin mint.
An excavation team estimated that the mine was made between 640 and 550BC, which would mean the people of that area were making coins nearly a century before the ancient kingdom of Lydia in modern-day Turkey, the previous title holder for “oldest producer of coins”.
But besides money and politics, Chinese archaeology is supported by genuine enthusiasm from people with no skin in the game, just folks who enjoy learning about their own history.
China’s framing of its history as an “uninterrupted line” that emerged from the Central Plains more than 5,000 years ago allows people to connect with discoveries from civilisations that existed in a very different world from our own.
For example, in November, archaeologists announced they had found a 5,500-year-old structure believed to have been used by the neolithic Yangshao culture, famous for its beautiful pottery. Elsewhere around the world, this type of discovery often feels like finding the shadows of a different species, but in China the connection to modern society appears more direct.
This is obviously a simplistic reading of history, mainly because the Yangshao people were more an amalgamation of various civilisations at that time. But, those nuances rarely exist in the popular imagination.
The result is that people often connect ancient Chinese discoveries to “our history”, which creates enthusiasm for the topic that can lead to knock-on effects such as inspiring children to pursue the field, improving the pool of talent.
While not archaeology, a palaeontologist once told me the story of a young woman whose parents pushed her to study geology to later contribute to the sciences.
Many people in China view the sciences of history and prehistory as a good career path, which increases the likelihood that a person with a general interest in the subject will later grow to become a professional.
All of the attention, money, enthusiasm and, to a certain extent, pressure, has amounted to a Chinese archaeology infrastructure that announces discoveries nearly every day. For those willing to follow the field closely, the activity creates a rewarding experience of constant learning.
Just last week, scientists in Tibet announced the discovery of an ancient settlement in the city of Shigatse that is believed to be around 4,000 years old.
At this rate, there is likely to be another announcement of some piece of Chinese history that is no less interesting following soon.
And for these reasons, it is not outrageous at all to declare that we are currently living in the golden age of Chinese archaeology.
- South China Morning Post, SCMP -
Hello again, Global Impact readers:
China’s Terracotta Army of warriors, chariots and horses became one of the most well-known archaeological discoveries in the world when it was unearthed by farmers in 1974.
The find still holds that level of interest to this day, but in China, new treasures are seemingly being unearthed every day due to an injection of resources, after a rallying cry from the Chinese president towards the end of last year highlighted the field’s cultural importance in modern China.
This week, Kevin McSpadden, a production editor on the People and Culture desk here at the SCMP, digs into what is fast becoming a national obsession in China.
Best,
Andrew Mullen
Production Editor, Political EconomyArchaeology in China is more than just the Terracotta Army as resources flood in
A high-profile letter sent in October 2021 told us everything we needed to know about the state of modern Chinese archaeology.
Sent by Chinese President Xi Jinping to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the discovery of the Yangshao culture – considered the start of modern Chinese archaeology – the letter called for “developing archaeology with Chinese features, style and ethos” so the field could contribute to “national rejuvenation”.
Regardless of the diverging opinions about the rhetoric, the letter demonstrated the increased social, political and economic importance of the scientific field in China.
It is not that archaeology was ever unimportant; the discovery of the Terracotta Army in 1974 is still probably the most iconic Chinese discovery of the past 100 years. But, as China’s economy continues to grow, the sheer volume of resources being poured into the field has become remarkable.
Take, for example, the excavation site at the Sanxingdui ruins in Sichuan province, a site that has revealed so many spectacular ruins that it has begun to rival many of China’s most iconic historical landmarks.
The excavation pits have been turned into full-blown glass-walled laboratories that include the ability to control the temperature and humidity of the air at the dig site.
Compare this to the first time the ruins were excavated in 1986. That team only had some spare tools, one camera to share between them, and they transported all of the artefacts using bicycles.
Politically, archaeology has played an essential role in building or deconstructing important narratives of Chinese history. A major discovery can transform an area’s tourism, meaning local officials are often on the hunt for an exciting piece of Chinese history in their hometowns that they can advertise.
While officials cannot plan for a discovery like the Sanxingdui ruins, it can be transformative if they are lucky enough to unearth a discovery of this scale. In 2018, the Sanxingdui Archaeology Museum received almost 964,000 visitors, generating 40 million yuan (US$6.3 million) in revenue.
A more minor recent example can be found in a village named Guanzhuang, outside of Zhengzhou, the capital of Henan province, which may now be able to boast itself as the home of the world’s first coin mint.
An excavation team estimated that the mine was made between 640 and 550BC, which would mean the people of that area were making coins nearly a century before the ancient kingdom of Lydia in modern-day Turkey, the previous title holder for “oldest producer of coins”.
But besides money and politics, Chinese archaeology is supported by genuine enthusiasm from people with no skin in the game, just folks who enjoy learning about their own history.
China’s framing of its history as an “uninterrupted line” that emerged from the Central Plains more than 5,000 years ago allows people to connect with discoveries from civilisations that existed in a very different world from our own.
For example, in November, archaeologists announced they had found a 5,500-year-old structure believed to have been used by the neolithic Yangshao culture, famous for its beautiful pottery. Elsewhere around the world, this type of discovery often feels like finding the shadows of a different species, but in China the connection to modern society appears more direct.
This is obviously a simplistic reading of history, mainly because the Yangshao people were more an amalgamation of various civilisations at that time. But, those nuances rarely exist in the popular imagination.
The result is that people often connect ancient Chinese discoveries to “our history”, which creates enthusiasm for the topic that can lead to knock-on effects such as inspiring children to pursue the field, improving the pool of talent.
While not archaeology, a palaeontologist once told me the story of a young woman whose parents pushed her to study geology to later contribute to the sciences.
Many people in China view the sciences of history and prehistory as a good career path, which increases the likelihood that a person with a general interest in the subject will later grow to become a professional.
All of the attention, money, enthusiasm and, to a certain extent, pressure, has amounted to a Chinese archaeology infrastructure that announces discoveries nearly every day. For those willing to follow the field closely, the activity creates a rewarding experience of constant learning.
Just last week, scientists in Tibet announced the discovery of an ancient settlement in the city of Shigatse that is believed to be around 4,000 years old.
At this rate, there is likely to be another announcement of some piece of Chinese history that is no less interesting following soon.
And for these reasons, it is not outrageous at all to declare that we are currently living in the golden age of Chinese archaeology.
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22 January 2022 |
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Welcome to our 670 newly joined SCMP Global Impact readers who signed up in the past week.
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Hello again, Global Impact readers:
China’s Terracotta Army of warriors, chariots and horses became one of the most well-known archaeological discoveries in the world when it was unearthed by farmers in 1974.
The find still holds that level of interest to this day, but in China, new treasures are seemingly being unearthed every day due to an injection of resources, after a rallying cry from the Chinese president towards the end of last year highlighted the field’s cultural importance in modern China.
This week, Kevin McSpadden, a production editor on the People and Culture desk here at the SCMP, digs into what is fast becoming a national obsession in China.
Best,
Andrew Mullen
Production Editor, Political Economy
Archaeology in China is more than just the Terracotta Army as resources flood in
A high-profile letter sent in October 2021 told us everything we needed to know about the state of modern Chinese archaeology.
Sent by Chinese President Xi Jinping to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the discovery of the Yangshao culture – considered the start of modern Chinese archaeology – the letter called for “developing archaeology with Chinese features, style and ethos” so the field could contribute to “national rejuvenation”.
Regardless of the diverging opinions about the rhetoric, the letter demonstrated the increased social, political and economic importance of the scientific field in China.
It is not that archaeology was ever unimportant; the discovery of the Terracotta Army in 1974 is still probably the most iconic Chinese discovery of the past 100 years. But, as China’s economy continues to grow, the sheer volume of resources being poured into the field has become remarkable.
Take, for example, the excavation site at the Sanxingdui ruins in Sichuan province, a site that has revealed so many spectacular ruins that it has begun to rival many of China’s most iconic historical landmarks.
The excavation pits have been turned into full-blown glass-walled laboratories that include the ability to control the temperature and humidity of the air at the dig site.
Compare this to the first time the ruins were excavated in 1986. That team only had some spare tools, one camera to share between them, and they transported all of the artefacts using bicycles.
Politically, archaeology has played an essential role in building or deconstructing important narratives of Chinese history. A major discovery can transform an area’s tourism, meaning local officials are often on the hunt for an exciting piece of Chinese history in their hometowns that they can advertise.
While officials cannot plan for a discovery like the Sanxingdui ruins, it can be transformative if they are lucky enough to unearth a discovery of this scale. In 2018, the Sanxingdui Archaeology Museum received almost 964,000 visitors, generating 40 million yuan (US$6.3 million) in revenue.
A more minor recent example can be found in a village named Guanzhuang, outside of Zhengzhou, the capital of Henan province, which may now be able to boast itself as the home of the world’s first coin mint.
An excavation team estimated that the mine was made between 640 and 550BC, which would mean the people of that area were making coins nearly a century before the ancient kingdom of Lydia in modern-day Turkey, the previous title holder for “oldest producer of coins”.
But besides money and politics, Chinese archaeology is supported by genuine enthusiasm from people with no skin in the game, just folks who enjoy learning about their own history.
China’s framing of its history as an “uninterrupted line” that emerged from the Central Plains more than 5,000 years ago allows people to connect with discoveries from civilisations that existed in a very different world from our own.
For example, in November, archaeologists announced they had found a 5,500-year-old structure believed to have been used by the neolithic Yangshao culture, famous for its beautiful pottery. Elsewhere around the world, this type of discovery often feels like finding the shadows of a different species, but in China the connection to modern society appears more direct.
This is obviously a simplistic reading of history, mainly because the Yangshao people were more an amalgamation of various civilisations at that time. But, those nuances rarely exist in the popular imagination.
The result is that people often connect ancient Chinese discoveries to “our history”, which creates enthusiasm for the topic that can lead to knock-on effects such as inspiring children to pursue the field, improving the pool of talent.
While not archaeology, a palaeontologist once told me the story of a young woman whose parents pushed her to study geology to later contribute to the sciences.
Many people in China view the sciences of history and prehistory as a good career path, which increases the likelihood that a person with a general interest in the subject will later grow to become a professional.
All of the attention, money, enthusiasm and, to a certain extent, pressure, has amounted to a Chinese archaeology infrastructure that announces discoveries nearly every day. For those willing to follow the field closely, the activity creates a rewarding experience of constant learning.
Just last week, scientists in Tibet announced the discovery of an ancient settlement in the city of Shigatse that is believed to be around 4,000 years old.
At this rate, there is likely to be another announcement of some piece of Chinese history that is no less interesting following soon.
And for these reasons, it is not outrageous at all to declare that we are currently living in the golden age of Chinese archaeology.
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Xinjiang mummies’ origins closer to home than we thought, study finds
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Earliest human remains found in the Chinese region to date are descended from an ancient Asian population, according to international research | | | • | The 4,000-year-old bodies discovered in boat coffins have confounded scientists for decades
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Bronze Age mummies found buried in a barren desert in Xinjiang in western China were descended from an ancient Asian population, not newcomers to the region as previously suggested, according to a new study. An international team of researchers found that the Tarim Basin mummies were direct descendants of the Ancient North Eurasians, a once widespread population that had largely disappeared by the end of the last Ice Age. Read more
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1,300 years later, scientists paint the picture of a murder and a cover-up in China
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The man had originally been believed to have been a grave-robber, who had fallen victim to accident or assault | | | • | But by analysing the crime scene, a team of scientists suggested something far more sinister, and he likely died centuries later
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He will not get the justice he deserved, but, thanks to new research from a team of scientists, we can now piece together the story of a man who was probably murdered 1,300 years ago in northwest China. Furthermore, in investigating the case, scientists suggested the killer or killers tried to cover their tracks by “hiding a leaf in a forest”, or, to be more accurate, hiding the body in a graveyard to avoid detection. Read more
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128 children buried in ancient Chinese funerary tradition discovered in northern China
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The skeletons are believed to be about 2,000 years old and would not have been cremated | | | • | The urns acted as a protection for the bodies and are a major reason the skeletons preserved well to this day
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Archaeologists on Monday announced the discovery of 128 children buried inside of urns as part of an ancient Chinese funerary practice. The excavation team unearthed the tombs along with coins, pottery and tiles in northern China’s Inner Mongolia autonomous region. They believe these were people who lived during the Han dynasty (202BC-220AD). Read more
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To keep track of the latest global news developments, follow our daily coverage on our website or focus on stories about archaeology and palaeontology here.
In our next issue, our sports desk will look ahead to the Beijing Winter Olympics.
We welcome your feedback. Email me at globalimpact@scmp.com or tweet me at @kevinmcspadden. Plus, be sure to check out our People and Culture newsfeed for the latest news and analysis.
All the best,
Kevin McSpadden
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Kevin McSpadden
Production Editor, People & Culture
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Hello, thank you for reading Global Impact.
Our mission is to lead the global conversation about China and this flagship newsletter is one way our Editorial team contributes toward this goal.
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Understanding China means understanding the world. For more in-depth, expert coverage on how China and Asia impact the world, please consider a digital subscription to SCMP.
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