Civilizations communicate because of diversity, learn from each other because of communication and develop because of mutual learning. From deciphering the Mayan civilization, to studying the origin of human beings in Africa, and then to exploring the ancient Egyptian civilization … In recent years, with the deepening of the construction of the “the belt and road initiative”, China archaeologists have actively participated in international archaeological exchanges and cooperation, and jointly promoted exchanges and mutual learning between Chinese civilization and other civilizations in the world, each with its own beauty and beauty.
Copan site-
“Feel the charm of different civilizations in exchanges and cooperation”
Under the scorching sun, the archaeological team of China is working in the jungle at the site of Copan, more than 200 kilometers northwest of Tegucigalpa, the Honduran capital. With the deepening of archaeological excavation, precious cultural relics have been unearthed, and the mystery of the rise and fall of Copan, the ancient Mayan city, has been uncovered little by little.
Why did Wan Li come all the way here? Li Xinwei, the leader of the archaeological team and an archaeologist of China Academy of Social Sciences, dug up a head of Quetzalcoatl from the soil and told reporters: “Chinese civilization and Mayan civilization are both typical representatives of ancient civilizations in the world, with both differences and similarities. By appreciating the beauty of other civilizations, we can deeply perceive the uniqueness and brilliance of our Chinese civilization. “
In July, 2015, Li Xinwei led the China Archaeological Team to officially start the archaeological research of Copan site and Mayan civilization. Previously, the archaeology of Mayan civilization in Honduras has been dominated by experts from European and American countries. As a “beginner” of Mayan civilization archaeology, Li Xinwei led the team to study a large number of Mayan archaeological achievements and actively exchanged and studied with Honduran archaeologists.
China’s archaeological work at Copan site is to excavate, rebuild and comprehensively study the noble courtyard numbered 8n-11. Through the complete excavation of the whole courtyard, the archaeologists clearly understood the development and evolution of this noble family and formed systematic data. “New technologies such as three-dimensional imaging and drone aerial photography brought by China have replaced our traditional plan making methods, ensuring the accuracy of archaeological information and greatly improving work efficiency.” Cecilia, data manager of Copan project in Honduras, said.
“China experts have rich field work experience and professionalism, and can flexibly use various research and technical means, which has provided strong support for our archaeological work.” Honduran archaeologist jorge ramos said: “Through the study of Mayan civilization and Chinese civilization, we feel the charm of different civilizations in exchanges and cooperation.”
In Li Xinwei’s view, there are many similarities between Mayan civilization and early Chinese civilization. Understanding the development of different civilizations can broaden our thinking and horizons for studying Chinese civilization. “The image interpretation of Mayan sculpture, painting, pottery and jade, as well as the study of Mayan religious concepts and the operation of Mayan society, also inspire the archaeological research in China.”
Next year, the China Archaeological Team plans to start the second archaeological project of Copan Site. “Chinese team.A large number of cultural relics excavated are important contributions to the study of Mayan civilization, with very high cultural and archaeological value, which has been valued and praised by the American archaeological community. Ramos expressed his belief that experts from China will bring more help to the future archaeological research of Copan site.
Jimen cornerstone site-
“China Archaeological Team has become an important force in the international archaeological community”
About 200,000 years ago, under the Makaria Waterfall in the Rift Valley of East Africa, a small group of ancestors of modern people were looking for suitable stones in gravel piles. They will make stone tools in the shade under trees, hunt when they are hungry, and drink the clear water of waterfalls when they are thirsty … This scene is repeated in the mind of Zhanyang Li, a professor at the School of History and Culture of Shandong University. As the leader of the China-Kenya Joint Archaeological Team on the Origin of Modern Humans, Zhanyang Li has been to Kenya for archaeological excavations three times with the Chinese team since 2017.
A large number of well-made hand axes have been found in many Paleolithic sites in Kenya. As the main research area of “the origin of modern people”, a hot topic in global archaeology, archaeological teams from all over the world will come to Kenya in the annual excavation season. “The China archaeological team cannot be absent.” Zhanyang Li said that these Paleolithic stone products were mainly formed between 300,000 and 50,000 years ago, which is of great significance for explaining how modern people got out of Africa and studying the development and evolution of human history.
On October 3, 2017, the third day after China arrived in Kenya, the archaeologists discovered a paleolithic site near Makaria Waterfall. In the subsequent batch of archaeological work, a joint archaeological team composed of Henan Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology, Shandong University, Luoyang Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology and Kenya National Museum excavated more than 300 square meters in the Jimen cornerstone site in Kenya, unearthed more than 2,000 stone products and animal fossils, and found 27 paleolithic sites near the Jimen cornerstone site, covering the early, middle and late Paleolithic period.
Through the study of unearthed cultural relics, the archaeologists concluded that the owner of the late Paleolithic culture may be the earliest modern people. This inference supports the view that modern people walked out of Africa 70,000 to 50,000 years ago. At the same time, through the systematic excavation and study of the superimposed strata in different periods of the Jimen cornerstone site, especially the collection and arrangement of the upper microliths, the team members confirmed the spread route of the microliths culture.
“The cooperation with experts from China is very pleasant. The advanced technical experience they provided has greatly helped our archaeological research. ” John, a Kenyan expert who participated in the work of the China-Kenya joint archaeological team twice, said. John is a senior expert in paleoanthropology research, and the name of the site “the cornerstone of Jimen” is derived from his Kenyan name. In John’s view, in recent years, China has made important contributions to the study of human origin. “China test..The work of the ancient team has not only been fully affirmed by Kenya, but also its research results have been paid attention to in the industry. China Archaeological Team has become an important force in the international archaeological community. “
The ruins of the Temple of Montu-
“Let the two ancient civilizations of Egypt and China shine new brilliance in joint research and protection”
Since 2018, the Sino-Egyptian joint archaeological team, composed of the Institute of Archaeology of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences and the Egyptian Ministry of Cultural Relics, has carried out archaeological and research work at the site of the Montu Temple in the northern part of Luxor, an ancient city in southern Egypt (see photo, courtesy of the Sino-Egyptian joint archaeological team), which has gradually presented the scene of the temple and unearthed cultural relics to the world.
“In the process of learning from other ancient civilizations, we can deeply feel the commonness and individuality among various civilizations.” When talking about the significance of China’s archaeology going abroad, Jia Xiaobing, the Chinese executive leader of the Sino-Egyptian joint archaeological project and an archaeologist of the China Academy of Social Sciences, said.
In 2016, the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Egypt, at the invitation of Cairo University, Wang Wei, then director of the Institute of Archaeology of Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, led a delegation to visit Egypt. During the visit, Wafaa Sidik, then director of the National Museum of Egypt, said that Wang Wei was unforgettable-“At present, none of the 206 international archaeological cooperation projects in Egypt is participated by China, and we look forward to cooperating with China.”
“Without a clear understanding of each other’s historical civilization, the exchanges between Chinese and Egyptian civilizations and the exchanges between the two ancient civilizations will be difficult to be in-depth and effective.” After returning to China, Wang Wei immediately conducted preliminary research on Sino-Egyptian joint archaeology. In October 2018, the two countries signed the Agreement on Joint Archaeological Project of the Temple of Luxomontu in China and Egypt, and the Sino-Egyptian joint archaeological team was formally established. In November of the same year, the first phase of the project started, which was the first time that the China archaeological team went to Egypt for archaeological excavation since the founding of New China.
The site of Montu Temple has a history of more than 3,000 years, and it is part of the famous Karnak Temple in Luxor. In 1979, Karnak Temple was listed as a world cultural heritage by UNESCO. Jia Xiaobing said that the Chinese and Egyptian civilizations have a long history and a splendid history. The cultural heritage protection and archaeological work of the two countries are both similar and complementary. The cooperation between the two sides will help deepen the understanding of each other’s civilizations.
Although the archaeological work has only been carried out for two excavation seasons, it has achieved remarkable results, such as the excavation in the small temple area of Osiris, which has supplemented new materials for studying the worship of Osiris in ancient Egypt. According to Mustafa Sakil, the Egyptian leader of the Sino-Egyptian joint archaeological project, the advanced technology and valuable experience brought by the Chinese team have provided a strong guarantee for the joint archaeology. “This joint archaeology lasts for five years. I look forward to the in-depth interaction between the two sides in five years of exchanges, so that the two ancient civilizations of Egypt and China will shine new glory in joint research and protection.”
(This newspaper Mexico City, John.Nesburg, Cairo, Beijing, June 13th)
Our reporter Liu Xuxia Zou Songjing Yue Yu Yichun