For Chinese archaeology, 2021 is a year of special significance. This year marks the centenary of the birth of modern Chinese archaeology, the second anniversary of General Secretary Xi Jinping's inspection of the Dunhuang Research Institute and his important speech on Dunhuang Studies, and the first anniversary of General Secretary Xi Jinping's important speech on the important achievements and significance of Chinese archaeology. On October 17, 2021, the Yangshao Cultural Discovery and the 100th Anniversary of the Birth of Modern Chinese Archaeology was held in Sanmenxia City, Henan Province. Comrade Xi Jinping earnestly hoped that the vast number of archaeologists would enhance their sense of historical mission and responsibility, carry forward the fine traditions of rigorous and truth-seeking, arduous struggle, and dedication, continue to explore the unknown, reveal the origins, and strive to build archaeology with Chinese characteristics, Chinese style, and Chinese style, better display the style of Chinese civilization, carry forward the excellent traditional Chinese culture, and make new and greater contributions to the realization of the Chinese dream of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. General Secretary Xi Jinping's series of important speeches and the spirit of congratulatory letters provide fundamental guidelines for the majority of archaeologists in the new era to better carry out archaeological research, and put forward higher requirements. Chinese archaeology stands at a new starting point and is opening a golden age of disciplinary development, and the spring of Chinese archaeology has arrived.
In 2021, the Chinese archaeological community is very active, and Chinese archaeology has made fruitful achievements in academic history review, theoretical method discussion, prehistoric and historical archaeology, and empirical research. Driven by the landmark event of the 100th anniversary of the birth of modern Chinese archaeology, research on the history of archaeology, archaeological theories and methods, and the characteristic styles and styles of Chinese archaeology has become an important feature. Obviously, these fruitful achievements cannot be fully and accurately reflected in a short article. In view of the fact that many important archaeological discoveries are published in professional journals in the form of briefings and other forms, or published by the media in the form of demonstration meetings, news reports, annual selections, etc., this article does not cover the above two aspects, but only selects a number of common and representative research results to summarize, many wonderful contents can only be cut, and please correct the inappropriateness.
The 100-year review and future outlook are eye-catching
In the past 100 years, generations of archaeologists have made unremitting efforts to make a series of major archaeological discoveries. On October 18, 2021, the "Top 100 Archaeological Discoveries in 100 Years" announced at the opening ceremony of the "Third Chinese Archaeological Congress" concentrated on displaying the main achievements, and 100 archaeological discoveries such as the Zhoukoudian site in Beijing were selected. Among the archaeological discoveries of the Neolithic Age, most of the important sites closely related to the origin of Chinese civilization and the process of civilization in various places have been selected, which reflects the importance and strengthening of the research on the origin of Chinese civilization and the work of archaeological sites related to it. At the new historical node, reviewing important achievements, summarizing rich experience, refining useful enlightenment, clarifying discipline positioning, and anchoring academic direction have become the focus of many scholars.
First, the important achievements of centuries-old archaeology. The 100 years of archaeological practice have reconstructed the prehistory of China, greatly enriching and perfecting the history of China in the historical era since the documentation. Chen Xingcan believes that we commemorate the 100 years of the discovery of Yangshao culture because its discovery and research process reflects the century-old course of modern Chinese archaeology in exploring the source and revealing the development of Chinese civilization and brilliant achievements. Liu Qingzhu believes that the proposal and practice of archaeology with Chinese characteristics is the inevitable development of Chinese archaeology in the past century, the inevitable development of China's modern history, and the inevitable development of the excellent tradition of Chinese historiography. Wang Wei believes that over the past hundred years, generations of Chinese archaeologists have passed on the torch, carried on the past and forged ahead, bowing to the development of Chinese archaeology and forging ahead. Chen Shengqian and Wang Hongbo believe that the three different sources and development contexts of archaeology form the basic structure of archaeological academic history and affect the pattern of contemporary archaeological theoretical methods.
The summary of the important achievements of archaeology in the past century is also reflected in the publication of academic works. "2020 Important Archaeological Discoveries in China" (editor-in-chief of the State Administration of Cultural Heritage, Cultural Relics Publishing House) includes a total of 34 new archaeological discoveries in 2020, systematically explaining the long-standing and profound Chinese civilization. The Diary of Xia Nai and The Archaeological Compilation (all 4 volumes, Social Science Literature Publishing House) is an important reference material for the history of modern Chinese academic development, the history of new Chinese archaeology and the study of Xia Nai. The Origin of Chinese Civilization in the Eyes of Archaeologists (edited by Chen Xingcan, Cultural Relics Publishing House) collects 40 articles on the origin of Chinese civilization in chinese archaeology since the mid-1980s, reflecting the process and appearance of the Chinese archaeological community's exploration of the origin of Chinese civilization. The Centennial History of Chinese Archaeology (1921-2021) (all 12 volumes, edited by Wang Weiguang, wang Wei, and China Social Sciences Press) divides Chinese archaeology in the past hundred years into four parts, in a sense, an encyclopedia of Chinese archaeological research.
Second, the rich experience of a century of archaeology. Guo Mingjian believes that a series of excellent traditions formed in the development of Chinese archaeology have built up the practice norms and spiritual backbone of Chinese archaeologists, including the work model of targeting important sites, leading the team, and continuous excavation. Wei Xingtao believes that there are still many aspects to be deepened in the study of Yangshao culture, among which in-depth discussion of issues related to civilization should be the focus in the future. Jia Xiaobing believes that the discovery of The Hongshan culture has played a leading role in the study of the origin of Chinese civilization. Han Jianye believes that faience pottery contains the "code" of Chinese culture, faience pottery has a special cultural and social function in pre-civilized society, and the true picture of the "road of faience pottery" is worth continuing to explore.
Third, the revelations of a century of archaeology. Wang Wei believes that strengthening the interpretation of archaeological data can fully realize the social value of archaeology, and multidisciplinary integration is the only way for the development of archaeology. Liu Qingzhu believes that the discovery and research of Chinese archaeology in the past hundred years have revealed the history of China's 5,000-year-long fractured civilization, and the historical reason for its non-fracture is the cultural self-confidence of generations of Chinese sons and daughters. Chen Chun believes that Chinese archaeology has a long way to go in the information refining, integration and scientific interpretation of massive materials. Li Xinwei believes that the scientific exploration of the origin of Chinese civilization by archaeology has reached an important conclusion, that is, the formation of Chinese civilization has unfolded in a vast geographical background, and has experienced a grand process of diversified development, collision and final integration of various regions.
Image source: Visual China
Many scholars have summed up the centuries of archaeology through the remembrance of famous archaeologists of their predecessors. Zhao Dawang believes that Xiang Da, Lao, and Shi Zhangru have made outstanding achievements under difficult conditions and occupy an important position in the history of Modern Chinese Dunhuang Studies. Dunhuang Studies is the meeting point of Xiang Da and Xia Nai's academic fields, and it is also an important medium for the two gentlemen to establish a deep friendship. Tang Huisheng believes that to commemorate Xia Nai and review Xia Nai's Marxist archaeological system is to carry forward the rigorous examination and empirical spirit of the old official, the scientific attitude of seeking truth from facts, and the academic vision of the encyclopedia. Chen Weiju believes that Xia Nai and Su Bingqi have different methods, opportunities, materials and systems to understand the pluralism of Chinese cultural origins, but they have made unique contributions to understanding the pluralism of Chinese cultural origins. Wang Wei pointed out that An Jinhuai discovered and studied zhengzhou malls, and also made outstanding contributions to the study of Xia culture.
Fourth, the development prospects of century-old archaeology. Zhu Naicheng believes that Chinese archaeology will play a more important role in revealing the continuous development and inheritance of excellent cultural traditions of ancient Chinese culture and civilization, revealing the genes of Chinese culture, and displaying and constructing the treasures of Chinese national history and Chinese civilization. Pei Shidong believes that the use of mainland archaeological and historical research results can show the international community the broad and profound Chinese civilization and show the chinese civilization's major contributions to world civilization. Ran Honglin believes that Chinese archaeology will play an irreplaceable and important role in realizing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation and "strengthening cultural self-confidence and building a cultural power". Gao Chongwen believes that on the basis of the hard work of the predecessors for many years, it is necessary to further reveal the important position and role of chu culture in the development of ancient civilization on the mainland. Qian Wei believes that archaeological science and technology work has made some progress, but there is still a lack of common academic programs and academic norms. In recent decades, new Paleolithic archaeological discoveries in southern China have been increasing. Wang Youping believes that compared with the research on northern China and the western side of the Old World, it is still necessary to explore and comprehensively restore the history of early human and social development in southern China. Qiao Yu believes that the work of archaeologists is not limited to restoring the past, but also to explain how history has developed, where the meaning of cultural heritage is, and what this meaning can provide for today's people.
The discussion of theory and method has become a hot topic
Closely related to the review and prospect of a century of archaeology is a strong interest in the theoretical approach of the discipline. Research in this area focuses on the characteristics, style and style of Chinese archaeology, the epistemology, methodology, discipline construction of Chinese archaeology, the relationship between archaeology and history, the applicability of Western academic paradigms or concepts in China, and the innovation of archaeological theory.
First, the characteristics, style and style of Chinese archaeology in the new era. Through the unremitting efforts of several generations of archaeologists, Chinese archaeology has formed distinctive characteristics, unique styles, and grandeur. How should we understand its historical process and rich connotations? Yu Xiyun believes that by the early 1980s, Chinese archaeology had completed its transformation into historical materialism, opened the road of social and historical reconstruction that sought truth from facts, and formed the Chinese school of archaeology. Tang Huisheng believes that the use of foreign countries for Chinese use and the use of the past for the present are still the banners we need to hold high. Han Jianye believes that archaeology with Chinese characteristics, Chinese style and Chinese style can be summarized as follows: with distinct historical goals, revealing the development of Chinese civilization by combing through the genealogy of archaeology and culture has always been the mainstream of archaeological research, and Marxism has always been the guiding ideology of archaeological research. Liu Qingzhu and Han Hanhe said that historical archaeology research must pay attention to the close combination of archaeological culture and ancient historical documents, which is not only an important feature of Chinese archaeology, but also the biggest difference between it and prehistoric archaeology. Chen Chun believes that Chinese archaeology can only reflect its national nature if it is placed in the context of the world. Xu Lianggao believes that only by recognizing and getting rid of the traditional document-oriented way of thinking of "supplementing history with evidence and scriptures", taking archaeology as the basis, and taking the road of "archaeology writing history", can we build a scientific ancient History of China. Zhao Binfu believes that the one-hundred-year development process of Chinese archaeology is actually a process of continuous efforts to build archaeology with Chinese characteristics, Chinese style and Chinese style. He Nu believes that the essence of the Chinese archaeological school is archaeology under the historical discourse system, characterized by locality and historical material tendencies, and the characteristic methodology is based on the archaeological evidence chain as the main strand, with the documentary evidence chain strand, supplemented by the anthropological evidence chain strand, twisted into an organic connection of the "three strands of evidence chain".
Second, the epistemology, methodology, and academic history of archaeology. What kind of discipline is archaeology, and what is its development trend in the new era? Song Jiangning understands the core of archaeology as an open knowledge system and discipline system based on field archaeology, which is a comprehensive discipline in nature and interdisciplinary in nature. Wang Yiren believes that in the final analysis, the problem of archaeology is a philosophical and logical problem, and it is necessary to return to human beings themselves, to the laws of human life, human beings and natural development. Shi Jinsong believes that multidisciplinary integration, theoretical construction, and comparative study of different civilizations should be the three important aspects of the development of Chinese archaeology. Yuan Guangguang believes that in the study of The Central Plains Neolithic archaeology, the research methods of field archaeology and archaeological typology are very important.
Third, the relationship between archaeology and other disciplines. Liu Qingzhu believes that the close integration of archaeology and documentary historiography is the academic tradition, advantages and characteristics of Chinese historiography. Bu Xianqun believes that the integration and development of history and archaeology is not to merge into one, but to jointly promote and cultivate new disciplinary growth points. Chen Heng believes that archaeology and prehistory cannot replace each other, and although archaeology has developed greatly as a whole, there is still a long way to go if the archaeological results are to be used in the study of world prehistory. Yang Bo believes that archaeology and history are the two independent main components of historical science, and the fundamental task of the integration of the two is to "explore the unknown and reveal the origin". Shi Jinsong believes that exploring the origin, formation and development of China reflects the characteristics of Chinese archaeology, and this problem needs to be jointly addressed by different disciplines.
Fourth, research methods, basic concepts, and reflections on discipline development. Lu Qingyu, Wang Qi, etc. believe that in the middle and late 20th century, some scholars on the mainland began to try to use the analysis method of pottery lithology derived from the archaeological community in Europe and the United States, but as of now, there is still a lack of more mature research cases. Zhou Yuduan and Li Yinghua believe that in recent years, "Paleolithic technology research" has been used in many studies, but there is a crude imitation of technical research, which in turn brings misleading research methods and research conclusions. Zhang Lidong and Li Liyuan believe that the archaeology of the Yellow River is an interdisciplinary discipline of traditional archaeology, Yellow River history and geological archaeology. Mulberry believes that the phenomenon of lagging comprehensive research and uneven development of disciplines should be solved through the ontological study of archaeology. Bai Yunxiang proposed that urban handicraft archaeology, as a cross-research field of urban archaeology and handicraft archaeology, is not only the need to deepen urban archaeology, but also the need to promote handicraft archaeology.
Highlights of prehistoric archaeological research are frequent
Prehistoric archaeology is directly related to the history of mankind over millions of years, the cultural history of 10,000 years, and the history of civilization for more than 5,000 years. In fiscal 2021, the relevant research involved the early human way of life, material culture, settlement and social complexity, religion and art, ethnic interaction and cultural exchange.
First, the early human way of life. In 2021, the early Neolithic Pujiang Shangshan site in Zhejiang was selected as one of the "Top 100 Archaeological Discoveries in a Hundred Years" in China. Zhao Zhijun believes that the origin of rice agriculture or the initial stage in the formation process of rice farming can be traced back to the Shangshan culture period 10,000 years ago. Zhong Hua, Wang Tao and others believe that from the late Beixin period to the early Dawenkou culture, the systematic agricultural economy has not yet fully developed in the region. Cao Jian'en believes that the economic form of the archaeological cultures in central and southern Inner Mongolia in the Neolithic period is mainly manifested in the interaction and symbiosis of hunter-gatherer and agriculture. Chang Jingyu believes that there were diverse meat resource strategies in the Yulin area in the late Yangshao era, and the livestock breeding strategy according to local conditions was adopted in the late Longshan era. Liu Yiting, Li Ting, etc. believe that the ancestors of the Miaodigou cultural period of the Miaodigou site mainly raised domestic pigs and adopted different utilization strategies for different animals. Liu Li, Li Yongqiang and others believe that the winemaking method of the Yangshao cultural site in Dingcun can represent the development state of winemaking technology in the core area of Yangshao culture 6,000 years ago. Zheng Xiaoruo, Shao Dong and others believe that the majiabang culture developed to the late stage, the size of rice increased significantly, and rice farming gradually became the main agricultural sector.
Second, material culture. Song Bo, Chen Quanjia, etc. believe that the Paleolithic site of The Slope of Cangfang in Xixia, Henan Province, has a small stone tool cultural tradition, and the site may have been formed in the early Late Pleistocene. Li Yiyi believes that the Paleolithic culture in the Lishui River Basin and the sites of the Late Pleistocene in South China has undergone new development, and the Paleolithic culture of this period has entered a new stage of sustainable development. Fan Wenquan, He Cunding and others believe that the Miaodigou site has the characteristics of stone tool processing and specialization, of which the stone tools are mainly agricultural tools. Luan Fengshi, Wu Hao and others believe that the stone tool production of the ruins of the two towns has left the production stage of cottage handicrafts and entered a more complex period of specialized production. Dong Xiaoshuai and Li Xiuhui believe that the sites of bronze samples from the pre-Qin period unearthed in Gansu are distributed in the Tao River Basin and Hexi Corridor area, and the cultural attributes are mainly qijia culture and Siba culture.
The invention of pottery is often seen as one of the hallmarks of the development of human society from the Paleolithic to the Neolithic. Qian Yaopeng and Mu Qiongjie believe that the North China Plain, represented by the Central Plains, should be one of the earliest birthplaces of prehistoric pottery kilns on the mainland. Guo Ziyue believes that the polished thin-tire black pottery in the pei ligang culture three phase tile kiln mouth site marks that the pottery making process of the Pei ligang culture has reached a peak. Peng Xiaojun believes that the type of pottery molding technology formed a regular spatial distribution characteristic in the middle of the Neolithic era. Su Mingchen, Song Haichao and others believe that the pottery of the three periods of Miaodigou, Xiwangcun and Miaodigou Phase II culture is basically in the same line in production technology. Xu Zhaofeng and Wang Kaikai believe that the spread of Dakouzun reflects the exchanges between cultures in Haidai, Taihu, Zhongyuan and Jianghan regions in the late Neolithic period. Chen Hui and Jing Zhichun found that although there were some differences in materials and production techniques, the shape and decoration of Panlongcheng pottery tried to maintain consistency with the Central Plains, reflecting the identification with the cultural concepts and identities of the Central Plains.
Third, settlements, city sites, and societies are complicated. Zhang Chi believes that the settlement enclosed by the moat at the site of Baiyin Changhan is the smallest social unit of the Xinglongwa culture, and the Xinglongwa culture period should be a clan-tribal society. The Zhengzhou Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology believes that the site of the double locust tree and a number of sites distributed around it together constitute a large-scale settlement site group. On October 9, 2021, the site of archaeological excavation experts at the site of Jimingcheng City will be held in Lixian County, Hunan Province. Experts believe that the large wooden structure F63 revealed by this excavation will help to understand the prehistoric architectural form of the Yangtze River Basin. Zhang Guoshuo, Zhang Ting, and others believe that the structure of the city walls of early Chinese city sites is not only consistent, but also has obvious complexity, diversity and regional characteristics.
Changes in settlement morphology reflect differences in the degree of social complexity. Chen Xuefei believes that the Pei Ligang culture is in a basically equal social stage, but in the Jiahu settlement, occupations with social status such as wizards or clan leaders have emerged. Qin Cunyu believes that there is no class and rich and poor differentiation in pei ligang culture, and there are already wizards in charge of religious sacrifices in the Jiahu settlement. Ma Xiaolin believes that the social form of Yangshao culture completed an important transformation from a simple egalitarian society to a complex society during the Miaodigou period. Chen Yong believes that the Liangzhu society that entered the threshold of civilization had three early national characteristics: a political society organized by region, a complex social stratification, and a hierarchical system of power. Tian Wei believes that the possibility that the ruins of Zhoujiazhuang are the location of Shundu cannot be completely ruled out.
Fourth, religion and art. Han Jianye believes that in the Pei Ligang era, there began to appear public cemeteries with common burial customs and orderly arrangements- clan burial cemeteries, which was a reflection of the strengthening of the concept of ancestor worship in the Yellow River Basin at that time. The Pei Ligang era was the first step towards the origin of Chinese civilization. Li Xinwei believes that the combined images of fish and birds that existed during the Miaodigou type period reflect the shamanic concept of the sacred bird completing the gestation and growth in the fish body. Painted pottery is an important symbol of the cultural hierarchy of Tao Temple. Wang Renxiang believes that there may already be four gods in Liangzhu culture. He Nu believes that the jade is not only a religious instrument of Liangzhu culture, but also a symbolic symbol of "national identity" promoted by the Liangzhu state political system. Wang Renxiang believes that the Fang Ling forehead flower is a fixed divine symbol of the animal god in the early history of ancient Chinese civilization, and it was also a divine symbol of the human god in the late prehistory.
Fifth, ethnic exchanges and cultural exchanges. Cai Jinying believes that in the third phase of the Magnetic Hill culture, the northward force of the Pei Li Gang culture was more intense, which made the cultural outlook of the third phase undergo significant changes, and while the Pei Li Gang culture went north, the Magnetic Hill culture also had some factors going south to the Pei Li Gang cultural area. Cui Zongliang believes that many factors of Pei Ligang culture were inherited by Beixin-Dawenkou, and they were transformed and innovated, which in turn affected the development of Chinese culture and the birth of Chinese civilization. Dai Xiangming believes that there may be a close relationship between the rise and fall of settlements in the neighboring areas of Shaanxi, Jin, and Yu during the Yangshao period, the development of social complexity and the utilization of salt resources in southern Jin. Xue Xinming believes that the Miaodigou culture once expanded strongly outwards, and exchanged and integrated with the northern culture, which had an important impact on the later development trend. Jia Xiaobing believes that in the ethnic expansion with exclusivity as the main theme, the ancestors of hongshan have developed from the material level to the spiritual level. Luo Shiqian believes that the high degree of consistency in the emergence time, region and even shape of the late Longshan culture in Shandong shows that it may be related to large-scale ethnic migration. Han Jianye believes that the early East-West cultural exchanges began around 3500 BC, laying the foundation for the formation of the "Silk Road" after that. Luan Fengshi believes that the jade of the Longshan era in northern Shaanxi and southern Jin has strong common characteristics and belongs to the same large jade system. Shao Jing believes that there are signs of cultural exchange and interaction between the Shijia culture and the Houshijiahe culture about 4,000 years ago.
Archaeological research in the historical period has been steadily advancing
Archaeology in the historical period of 2021 seems to be able to introduce a little bit from the aspects of political activities and ruling ideas, economic and social life, artifact manufacturing technology, religion and art, social interaction and cultural exchange.
First, political activity and the idea of domination. Chen Yu believes that the large number of overlapping phenomena that exist between the Wuding Wang Buci place name system, the Huadongzi Bu Ci place name system and the late Shang Wang Bu Ci place name system are of great value for the delineation and restoration of the political geography of the late Shang Dynasty. Chao Fulin believes that the Zhou people's concept of governing the country, derived from the second king of the early Zhou Dynasty, played a role in consolidating political power under the needs of different eras. The Zeng Gong Chimes unearthed from the Zengguo Noble Cemetery in Suizhou Jujube Forest have aroused the rethinking of the scholarly circles on the issue of "Kang Palace". Du Yong believes that the wording of the Zenggong Chime Inscription is not in line with the characteristics of the era at the beginning of the Zhou Dynasty, and it is difficult to judge the era and nature of the "Kang Palace" based on it. Yang Lisheng believes that Zeng Gongqiu is evidence that the system of ordination in the Eastern Zhou Dynasty was still continuing. Liu Binhui believes that the first year of the Chu calendar is winter, and the construction of ugliness is the right. Huang Shangming and Guan Xiaowu believe that Zeng Guo's chronology law has always respected Zhou Zheng. Chen Wei believes that in the early years of the Western Han Dynasty, China's law formed a significant structure of the separation of criminal law and civil law. He Youzu believes that the M1:118 and 158 wooden mu of Laoguanshan reflect the historical fact that the government strengthened supervision of market transactions during the Han Wudi period to ensure the effective implementation of the "ZhanZhi Order".
Second, economic and social life. Zhu Fenghan believes that there are obvious differences in the combination of burial utensils in the first and second phases of the Lower Culture of Erligang and the late Erlitou Culture, and the shape characteristics of pottery are different, reflecting the important differences in types between the two. Chen Chang believes that the layout of the Hebi Liuzhuang cemetery reflects the five-level social relationship jointly built by the xianshang people, the Baiyan fourth-phase cultural group, and the Dongxia Feng cultural group, and reflects the family relationship and etiquette system in the Erlitou period as an important means of social control. Liu Yifang and Zhang Dong believe that the inner city of Zhengzhou Shangcheng was the core functional area of the city in the early Shang period, and the historical city of Yaju in the central and northern regions also found broken rammed earth sites of the early Shang, hinting at the importance of the area in the early Shang period. He Yuling believes that the square ruins around Huanbei Shangcheng are "city moats", and the water system of Beishang and Yin Ruins embodies the principle of adapting to local conditions and efficient use. Zhou Zhiqing believes that the burial of grinding stones is a common funerary custom at the Jinsha site, which is the product of the social class differentiation of ancient Shu. Xu Lianggao discussed the production organization and management methods of Fenghao handicraft industry. Zhang Tianyu believes that the Yejiashan Zenghou Cemetery M111 predates M28. Yan Zhibin believes that the 罍 and the bell are the most important symbols of the Shu people's liturgical culture, and the owners of the two are the upper-class magnates in the Shu cultural society. Xu Weihong believes that the distribution of handicraft remains in the northern district of Xianyang City, the capital of Qin, shows the layout characteristics of "two cities juxtaposed", and the overall administrative functions undertaken are biased towards economic management.
Third, the manufacture of utensils. Wang Qingzhu, Guo Junfeng, etc. believe that the isotope data of high radioactive lead reflect the resource homogeneity of bronze in different periods of the Shang Dynasty. Li Wenjing, Zhu Jian, etc. believe that the original porcelain of Yin Ruins is significantly different from the southern products in terms of chemical element composition and lithographic characteristics. Li Wanxin believes that the combination of human and animal ornaments or shapes on bronzes in the late Shang and early Western Zhou Dynasties may have been formed and used in the Huai River Basin to the middle reaches of the Yangtze River and passed on to the north before the second period of the Yin Xu culture. Li Duo believes that the bronzes excavated from the late Shang to Western Zhou dynasties in Hunan and its neighboring areas actually belong to two groups of bronzes with successive ages and different characteristics, reflecting different cultural connotations and historical backgrounds. Zhang Ji and Gao Xiangping believe that some of the cast copper relics excavated at the Xingyang Guanzhuang site in recent years are closely the same as the alloy technology of bronzes of the central plains princely states in the early Spring and Autumn Period. Liu Xiangyu believes that the amphora excavated in and around the Chengdu Plain was produced by the influence of the Central Plains and the "marginal" area, and its production area should be local. Nan Puheng, Jia Yao and others believe that the bronze artifacts excavated from the watershed cemetery M269 and M270 are mainly cast and molded by lead-tin bronze alloy by casting method, and the source of lead materials has changed significantly in the middle of the spring and autumn.
In 2021, the important archaeological achievements of the Sanxingdui site sacrifice area once again shocked the world. Tian Jianbo believes that the round-eyed straight-beaked or crownless bird-shaped ornaments excavated from the Sanxingdui No. 2 Sacrifice Pit may have been imported from the middle reaches of the Yangtze River or imitated in the middle reaches of the Yangtze River. Lu Hao, Fu Wanlu and others believe that the combination and proportion of Sanxingdui jade materials are in line with the mineralization principle of amphibolite jade in Sichuan, and have the conditions of "local materials" of raw materials, and the jade selection has a certain correlation with the shape of the instrument. Guo Jianbo, Tian Hao, etc. believe that casting and various connection processes have been widely used in the casting of Sanxingdui bronzes, and a solid mechanical connection is formed between various components through multiple pouring, which is the technical guarantee for the successful casting of complex shaped artifacts such as bronze sacred trees.
Fourth, religion and art. Yan Zhibin believes that the two-week bronze inscriptions contain sending instruments, go-to instruments and walking instruments, which are related to funeral activities. Liu Zhao believes that the Classic of Mountains and Seas, which has a strong mathematical color, is a comprehensive book with a variety of contents mixed under the geographical framework. Wei Zheng and Wu Jiao believe that from the Pingcheng era to the Luoyang era to the Yicheng era, the tomb culture in eastern Northern China has developed continuously and even made breakthroughs. Wu Xiaolong believes that epitaphs are an important carrier for recording the funeral customs of the ancients and contain a rich funerary culture. Li Umeda believes that the tomb murals of the Han and Tang dynasties have clear narrative characteristics. Di Xiaobu believes that the content of the Han portrait stone unearthed in Tengzhou is a true portrayal of people's ancient life at that time. Pang Zheng believes that the portrait stone excavated from the M2 in the West High Cave of Anyang is exquisitely carved and has a high artistic value. Zhao Shengliang believes that the Sui Dynasty Dunhuang murals express a wonderful sense of light with delicate changes in color, reflecting the exuberant creativity of painters at that time.
Studies such as Buddhist statues and rock carvings on cliffs have attracted much attention. Huang Pan believes that in recent years, a large number of concentrated and buried Buddha statues have been unearthed in various places and can be divided into three categories. Wei Yongjie believes that thanks to the convenience of transportation, the statue-making activities in the Luxian area during the Northern Dynasty period showed a prosperous scene. Gong Yuchen, Wang Lele and others believe that due to the influence of natural and human factors, the distribution of grotto cultural relics in various regions is uneven and the degree of aggregation is high. Zhang Xiaogang believes that during the Tang and Song dynasties, Dunhuang was very popular in the dragon king belief. Dong Huafeng believes that the ancient plague material preserved in the Moya inscription in the Sichuan-Chongqing region during the Tang and Song dynasties reflects the complex interaction between the plague and Buddhism.
Fifth, social interaction and cultural exchange. Pang Xiaoxia believes that the formation of the remnants of the Erlitou culture in Xiawanggang is to some extent the result of the gradual expansion of the Erlitou culture to the junction area of Eyu and Shaanxi. Sun Zhuo believes that the expansion of the Central Plains culture in the third and fourth phases of Erlitou to the Jianghan region laid the foundation for the formation of the cultural pattern of the region in the later Erligang stage. Cao Wei believes that the bronze ware in the Hanzhong Basin originated from Panlong City, and the Shang Dynasty bronze ware in the Hanzhong Basin was the result of the outward expansion of merchants in the Erligang period. Wang Zijin believes that during the two Han Dynasties, economic, cultural, and ideological ties and mutual learning were achieved between the interior and the Hexi region. Zhang Defang pointed out that the dozens of consecutive post houses established by the Han Dynasty ensured the normal passage of the Silk Road. Wang Yin believes that the tombs of Cao Wei and Sun Wuzong show strong commonalities in the shape of the tombs, and there are certain cultural exchanges in terms of burial utensils and tomb facilities.
The above is just a silhouette of the important achievements of Chinese archaeology in 2021. In addition, Chinese archaeologists have made good achievements in international cooperation, academic exchanges, public archaeology, and team building. These achievements are not only the best summary of the centenary of Chinese archaeology, but also lay a solid foundation for The new journey of the second century of Chinese archaeology.
(Due to the length of the article, the name and source of the relevant paper in this report are omitted)
(Author Affilications:Department of History, China Social Science Journal)
Editor: Jia Wei