Modern China
In 1920s and 1930s is the first field work at Zhoukoudian in Beijing and Yinxu in Henan Province heralded the beginnings of archaeology in modern China.
No sooner had the People’s Republic of China been founded in 1949 than the central government set up the State Administration of Cultural Heritage and brought in legislation to preserve the nation’s historical relics.
During the 1950s and 1960s work resumed at Zhoukoudian and Yinxu and Chinese archaeologists undertook large-scale field surveys and excavations at various prehistoric sites. These included Banpo, Beishouling, Miaodigou, Qujialing and Dawenkou.
They investigated Erlitou, Zhengzhou and Fenggao dating back to the Shang (c.2100-1600 BC) and the Western Zhou (c.1100-771 BC); Houma from the Jin (265-420); the Chang’an city site of the Western Han (206 BC- AD 25) and Tang (618-907) and Yuandadu built during the Yuan Dynasty (1279-1368).
When a complete chariot pit came to light at Liulige in Hui County, Henan Province, it amazed archaeological circles around the world. After 1976, archaeology in China saw rapid development. The Archaeological Society of China was established in April 1979.
No sooner had the People’s Republic of China been founded in 1949 than the central government set up the State Administration of Cultural Heritage and brought in legislation to preserve the nation’s historical relics.
During the 1950s and 1960s work resumed at Zhoukoudian and Yinxu and Chinese archaeologists undertook large-scale field surveys and excavations at various prehistoric sites. These included Banpo, Beishouling, Miaodigou, Qujialing and Dawenkou.
They investigated Erlitou, Zhengzhou and Fenggao dating back to the Shang (c.2100-1600 BC) and the Western Zhou (c.1100-771 BC); Houma from the Jin (265-420); the Chang’an city site of the Western Han (206 BC- AD 25) and Tang (618-907) and Yuandadu built during the Yuan Dynasty (1279-1368).
When a complete chariot pit came to light at Liulige in Hui County, Henan Province, it amazed archaeological circles around the world. After 1976, archaeology in China saw rapid development. The Archaeological Society of China was established in April 1979.
