Yangshao Village, Cradle of China's Century-Old Modern Archaeology

Source: dahe.cn | 2021-10-19 18:32

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Yangshao Village, Cradle of China's Century-Old Modern Archaeology


In 1921


Together with Chinese scholars, Johan Gunnar Andersson, a Swedish geologist, conducted the first excavation in the village of Yangshao of Sanmenxia city, Henan province, marking the beginning of modern archaeology in China.


In 1931


Liang Siyong, a famous Chinese archaeologist, discovered the stratified cultural deposits of the periods of Yangshao (dating to 7,000 years ago), Longshan (dating to 4,000 years ago) and Shang Dynasty (1600 BC-1046 BC) at the Hougang Site in Anyang city of Henan province, and effectively refuted the claim that the Yangshao Culture comes from the Western countries.


In 1951


Xia Nai, one of the founders of New China's archaeology, led the second excavation and basically clarified the nature and features of the Yangshao Culture.


In 1959


Xu Xusheng, a notable Chinese historian, discovered the Erlitou Site in the village of Erlitou of Luoyang city, Henan province, unveiling the "First Dynasty of Huaxia" (Huaxia is a historical concept representing the Chinese nation and civilization).


From 1980 to 1981


The Institute of Cultural Heritage and Archaeology of Henan Province, together with other relevant departments, conducted the third excavation and proved the existence of the Yangshao Culture and the Longshan Culture at the Yangshao Site.


In 1991


Pit for Storing Oracle Bones of the Shang Dynasty unearthed in Huayuanzhuang village of Henan's Anyang city, Tombs of the Guo State (a state in the Zhou Dynasty - 1046 BC-256 BC) unearthed in Shangcunling village of Henan's Sanmenxia city, Tombs of the Han Dynasty (202 BC-220 AD) unearthed at Mangdang Mountain in Yongcheng of Shangqiu city were listed among China's Top 10 Archaeological Discoveries of 1991.


In 2011


The Laonainaimiao Site in Zhengzhou, a Paleolithic site, was selected as one of China's Top 10 Archaeological Discoveries of 2011, providing new materials for the study of the origin and development of modern humans and their culture in China and East Asia.


In 2020


Assisted by digital information, multi-discipline and multi-technology, the fourth excavation was launched.


In July 2021


A series of activities commemorating the centenary of Henan's modern archaeology were launched in Henan province.


In October 2021


The Conference in Commemoration of the Centenary of the Discovery of the Yangshao Culture and the Birth of China's Modern Archaeology kicked off in Sanmenxia city of Henan province.


(Chinese source: Henan Daily Reporter: Wang Xiaoping and Wang Xuehong Translator: Zhao Hanqing Video: Wang Junyi Proofreader: Zhang Yuhong)