Importance of archaeological discoveries stressed

Archaeologists' efforts at Yinxu Ruins in Anyang, Henan province, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, were highlighted at this year's first deputies' passage interview on Tuesday, just before the second session of the 14th National People's Congress.

"For nearly 100 years, several generations of archaeologists' unremitting efforts have unveiled the landscape of the highly-developed bronze civilization in East Asia," said He Yuling, a deputy to the 14th National People's Congress, who is also a researcher with the Institute of Archaeology, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.

Yinxu, the site of a late Shang Dynasty (c. 16th century-11th century BC) capital, witnessed the first independent excavation project carried out by Chinese academics almost a century ago, from which people discovered jiaguwen, or oracle bone inscriptions, the earliest known writing system in China. Yinxu now holds a sacred place in the annals of China's archaeological history.

The deputy has worked as an archaeologist at Yinxu for 25 years. He recalled his early experience excavating a tomb with his predecessors and uncovered the story of Yazhang, a Shang Dynasty general.

"Archaeologists work like detectives to unveil mysteries of ancient people. That attracted me deeply, and has helped me to stick to this profession," said He.

In the new era, He and his colleagues have discovered a broad road where several carriages could run in parallel, a large-scale courtyard with ponds and a workshop to make bronze artifacts. "These discoveries have pushed the research on Yinxu to new heights," said He.

Eight days before, the new Yinxu Museum was opened in Anyang, which showcases "the landscape of the bronze civilization more than 3,000 years ago" with nearly 4,000 artifacts, according to He.

He calls on people to visit the museum and enjoy the beauty of jiaguwen, bronze vessels and jade, and feel the profoundness of the Chinese civilization.