Current Research: Asia

Reported by Edward W. Gonzalez-Tennant
gonzaleztennant.ed@gmail.com

(Summer 2011 SHA Newsletter 44[2])

China

(All China news submitted by Ed Tennant; sourced from Xinhua News)

Song Dynasty tomb murals: Archaeologists have recently unearthed a series of tomb murals dating to the Song Dynasty in Dengfeng, Henan Province. The murals have suffered little damage and are of a very high artistic quality. However, archaeologists are excited by their content more than their quality. The murals appear to document daily affairs of the tomb's occupant, who is currently unidentified. The murals may offer an important and previously unknown glimpse into the day-to-day lives of residents in central China between the years 960 and 1279.

17th-century Burials in Jiangsu Province: Archaeologists in Jiangsu Province have unearthed at least two very well-preserved corpses dating to approximately 400 years ago. The tombs in which the bodies were found had flooded shortly after the burials and archaeologists believe this explains the high level of preservation. The burials and nearby coffins contained silk and cotton artifacts, such as robes, pants, skirts, caps, shoes, towels, and even pillow cases. Wang Weiyan, curator of a local museum, was excited by the finds because the individuals were not royalty or court officials, but rather civilians. The find promises to reveal much about the burial customs of ordinary citizens.

Protection of China's Industrial Heritage: Shan Jixiang, director of the State Administration of Cultural Heritage, has said great efforts should be made to safeguard sites related to China's development of its modern industries through improved public awareness. According to Shan, "Legions of industrial sites have been destroyed in recent years to make way for development projects due to the modernization and urbanization drive across the country," and "to some extent, industrial archaeological remains have been vanishing much faster than ancient tombs or architecture. The protection of industrial heritage has not attracted attention as a result of the comparatively shorter history of the development of modern industries in China." He urged local officials to do a better job of protecting industrial heritage amid the country's modernization drive.