[Explanation] On January 12, the press conference on important archaeological discoveries in Shaanxi in 2022 was held at the Shaanxi Provincial Bureau of Cultural Relics. On the spot, 11 archaeological excavations such as the Shenmu Shimao site and the Taiping site were introduced.
[Concurrent] Zhong Jianrong, Vice President of Shaanxi Provincial Institute of Archeology
The 11 items we released today, in terms of time, include the history of 5,000 years of civilization, and then the history of the formation of our early country, including our historical and cultural heritage from the Han and Tang Dynasties to the Ming Great Wall, Such a large period of time is a core of our Shaanxi cultural heritage resources.
In terms of space, the 11 archaeological items of Shaanxi that we released today include not only those in northern Shaanxi, but also those in central Guan, the central and western regions, and the central and eastern regions. In terms of types, there are both active research projects and accidental discoveries that cooperate with basic construction.
[Explanation] On the same day, Shao Jing, a research librarian at the Shaanxi Provincial Institute of Archeology, introduced the 2022 excavation of the Shimao site.
He said that the excavations this year focused on the west of the top of Huangcheng Terrace, and it was confirmed as a high-level cemetery in the Shimao Culture Period, named "Huangchengtai Cemetery". A total of 20 tombs were discovered, including 5 sarcophagus tombs and 3 small There are vertical pit tombs and 12 large vertical pit tombs.
[Concurrent] Shao Jing, research librarian of Shaanxi Provincial Institute of Archeology
The Huangchengtai cemetery discovered this time, judging from the current situation, is within the Shimao ruins and is also the cemetery with the highest cultural level in the entire Shimao culture. It may represent the tombs of the highest-level people in the entire Shimao. Therefore, this archaeological discovery provides very important archaeological materials for comprehensively promoting the important role of the Shimao site in the process of exploring the origin of Chinese civilization.
[Explanation] It is reported that starting from March 2021, led by the Institute of Archeology of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, together with Shaanxi Provincial Institute of Archeology and Xi'an Institute of Cultural Relics Protection and Archeology, the Taiping Site Joint Archaeological Team will be formed to carry out scientific and systematic research on the Taiping Site. archaeological excavations and research.
Up to now, more than 500,000 square meters of archaeological exploration have been completed, with a cumulative excavation area of 4,600 square meters.
Through these works, there are some preliminary clues to the understanding of the Taiping site.
[Concurrent] Wang Xiaoqing, a researcher at the Institute of Archaeology, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences
One of our most important discoveries this year is that we confirmed that the Taiping site is composed of two ring moats juxtaposed from east to west, and the area of the site is about 1 million square meters, which further proves that our Taiping site is so large. The size of the site further proves that our Taiping site is a central settlement site in the Guanzhong area during our period.
[Explanation] In addition, important discoveries such as Jiang Liu Yangshao's large ring moat site, Liu Gongquan's epitaph, and the juxtaposed site of the Five Bridges on Zhuque Street in Chang'an City in the Sui and Tang Dynasties were also announced this time.
Reporter Mei Yilong reports from Xi'an
Responsible editor: [Luo Pan]