Stories,of,Civilization

by Gong Haiying

Chinese civilization has a long history of over 5，000 years. Such complete and continuous civilizations have been extremely rare around the world. However， the weight of such an old civilization exerts tremendous pressure on contemporary society to understand and analyze its history and devise methods to inherit its profound traditions in modern times.

The book Amazing Ancient Sites—Tracing the History of Chinese Civilization with Frontline Archaeologists covers 10 representative archaeological sites in modern China that produced major archaeological discoveries. Editors invited frontline archaeologists engaged in the exploration of these sites for years to share stories about their work which would lead readers deep into the ancient ruins hidden behind the mysterious veil of the past. Their excavation experiences highlight the power of the latest cutting-edge archaeological technology and capture the stories behind these major discoveries.

The 10 sites selected are the ancient city of Liangzhu from the Neolithic Age， the Erlitou site （dubbed the “earliest China”）， the Yinxu Ruins in Anyang from the late Shang Dynasty （1600-1046 B.C.）， the Sanxingdui Ruins of the ancient Shu Kingdom in Guanghan， the Xiaohe cemetery that testifies to early exchange between China and the West， the Mausoleum of the First Emperor of the Qin Dynasty （221-207 B.C.）， the tomb of the Marquis of Haihun dating back to the Han Dynasty（202 B.C.-220 A.D.）， Changan City of the Han and Tang（618-907） dynasties， the Nanhai No.1 shipwreck from the Song Dynasty （960-1279）， and the Mogao Grottoes in Dunhuang. They span the history of ancient Chinese civilization from the embryonic stage to its heyday and stride across geographical space ranging from the Central Plains to the frontiers and sea， presenting a rough but thorough sketch of Chinas vast history.

Through narratives from archaeologists on their personal experiences in processing empirical materials， the book illuminates social life and cultural features at various stages of Chinese history and provides extensive historical information outside archaeological documents， creating a fresh perspective to observe and understand Chinese civilization.

The archaeological stories paint a picture of Chinese civilization experiencing a persistent and profound process of cultural integration. Long before the emergence of modern vehicles， cultural exchange between different civilizations was actually more frequent and deeper than one might imagine.

For example， various kinds of jade cong （a long hollow piece with rectangular sides）， representative relics of the 5，000-year-old Liangzhu culture found along the lower reaches of the Yangtze River， have been unearthed in places ranging from Yulin City in northwestern Chinas Shaanxi Province to southern Guangdong Province.

And the unique and magnificent ancient Shu culture represented by the Sanxingdui Ruins was apparently closely connected to the bronze culture of the Shang Dynasty in the Central Plains while also conducting extensive exchange with foreign civilizations through the land and maritime Silk Roads. Schematic diagrams， infographics， and photographs of relics complement the detailed text to present a vivid look at the excavations of those archaeological sites， accompanied by historical background， social context， reference materials， museum resources， and other information.

Ultimately， the book seeks to inspire readers to rethink the value of Chinese civilization and the significance of Chinese archaeology to world civilization.

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