No matter how big the site is, one or two people dig it, and no matter what the precious cultural relic is: there is a shortage of grassroots cultural protection personnel.

　　Since the second half of 2020, many important archaeological sites in my country have restarted excavations, and the investigation of local cultural relics at the grassroots level has resumed.

As the importance of archaeological research and cultural relic protection to the inheritance of civilization and cultural self-confidence is increasingly recognized by the world, we also need to see that under the new situation of the archaeological undertaking in full swing, the protection of grassroots cultural relics is still subject to the dilemma of the shortage of manpower and talent. In many places, the lone army who walks alone is still a portrayal of frontline cultural protection workers.

1

10 years, 5000 square meters of ruins, one person

　　"I was responsible for the excavation work of Lingjiatan from 2008 to 2018. Whether it is the archaeological institute or myself, I very much want to excavate and study this important site well. There is a lot of work that needs to be done and is worth doing here. But it is true. There is a shortage of people. I have basically been working on my own for the past 10 years, without a fixed team, and the progress of the work is obviously not ideal." Looking back, Wu Weihong couldn't help but sigh.

　　Wu Weihong is a professor of the History Department of Anhui University and a former researcher of the Anhui Provincial Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology.

The Lingjiatan site that he reads here is located in Hanshan County, Anhui Province, about 5,300 years ago. It is a representative relic of the origin and formation stage of Chinese civilization recognized by the academic circles. It is also one of the three known prehistoric jade cultural centers in China.

　　"Lack of people" can be called a chronic disease that has plagued our archaeological community for a long time.

Take the Anhui Provincial Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology as an example. At present, there are only more than 20 researchers who can engage in archaeological excavations, but they are responsible for excavations within 140,000 square kilometers of Anhui. For a long time, only 1 to 2 people are responsible for excavations in Lingjiatan.

　　Before 2008, research on the Lingjiatan site could only do some work on jade.

After Wu Weihong took over, he had an eye on the research of Lingjiatan social organization, and the systematic analysis of the settlement was also put on the agenda. However, he used his own power to explore the mystery of millions of square meters of ruins. He hated himself for not having three heads and six arms every day...

　　"Governments at all levels attach great importance to Lingjiatan. Money is not a problem, but the key is lack of people." Wu Weihong said, "I really couldn't help it in the past few years. I went to the Internet to post hero posts and recruit volunteers. A student who loves archaeology has helped a lot, but it is not a long-term solution after all!"

　　In June 2020, the Lingjiatan site started a new round of excavation work, and the shortage of manpower has not yet been alleviated.

Zhang Xiaolei, deputy director of the First Archaeological Research Office of the Anhui Provincial Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology, who was in charge of the excavation, said: “In 2020, there will be one more person in the Lingjiatan excavation. However, considering the endless emergence of various urgent jobs in the institute, we two people It is also difficult to guarantee that they are on the construction site at the same time."

　　It is reported that since the excavation in 1987, the Lingjiatan site with an area of ​​over 2.2 million square meters has a total excavation area of ​​less than 5,000 square meters, accounting for less than 0.3%.

2

Can't recruit people, let alone people who study archaeology

　　"Our first priority is to protect the site, but there is no archaeological professional here, which is the most troublesome problem for us." Daye City, Hubei Province Tonglushan Ancient Copper Mine Site Protection Management Committee Planning and Construction Section Chief Wang Yishi said.

　　The Tonglushan ancient copper mine site dating back more than 3,500 years is the ancient copper mine site with the earliest mining time, the longest production time, the largest scale of excavation, and the most complete preservation in my country. The advanced smelting technology of the ancestors is amazing.

The site was included in the "Preliminary List of World Cultural Heritage List" twice in 1994 and 2012; in 2001, it was named China's 100 major archaeological discoveries in the 20th century.

　　In order to protect the site, the local protection management committee has been set up.

“Although Daye is one of the top 100 counties in the country, it is far away from big cities, and its per capita annual income is only RMB 600,000 to 70,000. Professionals simply look down on it.” Hu Yaoqiong, deputy director of the management committee, said, “There are 14 employees in the unit, only One person has a background in geology, and he has something to do with site protection. Those who have come to study history and archaeology before have all switched jobs. Not long ago, we made great efforts to save people from cultural relics and archaeology. As a result, we didn't want to come to those who were not in the establishment."

　　As there are no knowledgeable people, the research and protection of the ancient copper mine remains difficult.

"There is a germ in the site itself, we don't know how to get it. We asked someone who is said to be a professional to sterilize it, and we don't know if he did it right." Wang Yishi said.

　　The reporter from Banyue Tan visited many grassroots cultural protection units along the Yangtze River and found that the phenomenon of “not recruiting or retaining professional talents” is very common.

At the same time, some localities withdrew the cultural relics protection department during the institutional reform, and the protection force was greatly weakened, which is a common problem.

According to a person from the archaeological community in Chongqing, there are only three to five staff in the cultural management offices and museums in many districts and counties of Chongqing.

　　“In Chongqing’s 38 districts and counties, only Zhongxian has the cultural relics bureau sign.” said a person in charge of the Chongqing cultural and tourism department. “The city’s archaeological and cultural museum system has a municipal level establishment of nearly 2,000 people, but there are only 38 districts and counties. There are 530 people, and there are not enough people to protect. How can we do research?"

　　"Grave robbery is still rampant now. In some counties where cultural relics are produced, there is no person in charge of cultural relic protection. They have no jobs, no funds, and no funds. What can they rely on to fight the tomb gang?" said Han Jianye, a professor at the School of History of Renmin University of China.

Reporter's Notes

Where is the way to send cultural protection talents to the countryside?

　　Freezing three feet is not a day's cold. To solve the "old difficulty" problem of the shortage of grassroots cultural protection talents, new wisdom is needed, and more concentration and patience are needed.

　　Starting from the reality that the construction of the cultural relics protection department is still restricted by the establishment of public institutions, if we want to expand the grassroots cultural protection team, we should rationally expand the establishment of cultural protection units in accordance with the actual conditions of various places, and the number of places should be tilted to the front line.

At the same time, work hard on the reform of the talent incentive mechanism to achieve realism.

In recruiting talents, we must not just talk about feelings but not treatment. From raising income levels, adjusting evaluation mechanisms, to guaranteeing all aspects of solving the worries of talents, to the rational flow of grassroots talents, timely charging and other "soft policies", it should be Let talents see sincerity.

　　In fact, to solve the problem of manpower allocation for grassroots cultural relics protection, there are also more flexible ideas.

On the one hand, cultural relics departments at all levels should actively seek cooperation with universities that set up archaeology-related majors, and set up different forms of practice bases in grassroots cultural preservation units. If conditions are ripe, they can also try to arrange colleges and universities to set up research in large sites or areas where grassroots cultural preservation units are concentrated mechanism.

In this way, it not only provides space for colleges and universities to train archaeological talents with practical experience, but also regularly sends young blood to enrich the grassroots cultural protection force.

On the other hand, regions with conditions can also seek diversified support and cooperate with sincere social forces, but they need to be wary of excessive development in the name of protection.

　　In addition, taking advantage of the revitalization of rural talents, higher-level cultural relics departments should consider “sending cultural preservation skills to the countryside” at an appropriate time. In areas where grassroots cultural preservation units are intensive and archaeological tasks are important, cultural preservation theme training can be carried out locally and popularized among villagers. The knowledge of cultural relics and related laws and regulations have made the villagers become aware of the protection of cultural relics, and brought out a cultural protection work team that spreads across the countryside and does not leave or leave.

(Reporters involved: Feng Yuan, Tong Fang, Jiang Fang, Wang Di, Xu Xiaoqing)

　　Source: "Ban Yue Tan" Issue 6, 2021

　　Half a month to talk about reporters: Wang Xian, Dong Xue, Zhao Yufei