"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."
For the full article, please see: https://www.scmp.com/economy/article/3164479/chinas-golden-age-archaeolo...