[Explanation] On March 11, the 2022 annual project of the key special project of China's national key research and development plan "Cultural Technology and Modern Service Industry"-"Research and Development and Application Demonstration of Key Technologies for Dehydration and Strengthening of Unearthed Saturated Ivory" project (hereinafter referred to as the project) was launched and The implementation plan consultation meeting was held at the Chengdu Archaeological Center in Sichuan.
This project is also the first major national project successfully declared in the field of cultural heritage protection research in Sichuan Province.
[Concurrent] Yan Jinsong, Dean of Chengdu Institute of Cultural Relics and Archeology
In 2022, in response to the international problem of dehydration and reinforcement of the unearthed saturated ivory body, the Ministry of Science and Technology will include it in this year's national key research and development plan, and in the application guidelines for key special projects of cultural science, technology and modern service industry, including Chengdu Institute of Cultural Relics and Archeology, Sichuan Provincial Cultural Relics 10 research institutes and cultural museums including the Institute of Archaeology, Jingzhou Cultural Relics Protection Center, Shanghai Advanced Research Institute of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Sichuan University, Sichuan Agricultural University, Gansu Archaeological Institute, Sichuan Normal University, Jilin University, and Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences Units jointly form a project team to jointly promote the project declaration work.
The project declaration was launched in May 2022, and the project was officially approved in January this year. The project implementation period is from November 2022 to October 2025.
[Explanation] It is understood that this project aims at the research and development needs of key technologies for the protection of unearthed water-saturated ivory in China, and conducts systematic research on the deterioration mechanism of unearthed water-saturated ivory, assessment of preservation status, dehydration reinforcement protection in the laboratory and on site, and evaluation of protection effects. .
[Concurrent] Luo Jing, Director of the Science and Technology Education Department of the State Administration of Cultural Heritage of China
Since the 20th century, archaeological excavations at the Sanxingdui and Jinsha ruins have unearthed a large number of water-saturated ivory, but affected by the buried environment, various diseases after unearthed can be said to be extremely serious, and the state of preservation can be said to be very cruel. It has greatly affected the protection of cultural relics, and the research and display of the utilization work.
We also hope that through the implementation of this project, we can solve the key technical problems in the protection of saturated ivory, make breakthroughs in deterioration mechanism, protection materials, protection technology, protection effect evaluation, etc., and effectively improve our ability to protect ivory.
[Explanation] It is understood that because the unearthed ivory is very fragile, there is currently no mature and safe method to protect it.
Taking the ivory found at the Jinsha site as an example, conservation workers sealed it with silicone to isolate it from the external environment, and the preservation time has been more than 20 years.
[Concurrent] Wang Yi, deputy director of the Sichuan Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism and director of the Sichuan Provincial Cultural Relics Bureau
Over the past 20 years, a lot of ivory has been unearthed from the Jinsha site. With the support of the Jingzhou Cultural Relics Protection Center and other experts, we have achieved good results in sealing the ivory with silicone.
But at that time we did not have the ability to adopt a newer technology to protect ivory.
The launch of the "Research and Development and Application Demonstration of Key Technologies for Dehydration and Strengthening of Unearthed Saturated Ivory" indicates that with the support of experts and relevant units across the country, our province has taken another big step forward in solving the protection of cultural relics.
[Explanation] According to Tang Fei, director of the Sichuan Provincial Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology, a large number of unearthed ivory needs to be protected urgently.
The clear goal of this project is to demonstrate the protection of 10 tusks. Once successful, the ivory unearthed in Sanxingdui will be protected successively.
[Concurrent] Tang Fei, Director of the Sichuan Provincial Institute of Cultural Relics and Archeology
The excavation of the Jinsha site in 2001, including the excavation of six sacrificial pits in Sanxingdui in 2021, unearthed a large number of ivory, this time more than 600 ivory (unearthed).
In order to protect it well, the research and development of dehydration and reinforcement technology has been put on the agenda.
The application and demonstration of this project are very urgent, and it provides a very good opportunity for the protection of our ancient Shu civilization, including ivory unearthed in our country and other such organic cultural relics.
This project has a clear goal of demonstrating 10 tusks. If these 10 tusks are successful, the more than 600 tusks will be protected one after another.
At most, it will be provided in museums and become an exhibit for everyone to understand ancient ivory.
Yang Yudi reports from Chengdu, Sichuan
Editor in charge: [Ji Xiang]