Once an obscure field, archaeology has attracted greater attention from the public and media in recent years. Disseminating professional, accurate archaeological information has thus become a key, emerging task for archaeologists.

The inaugural meeting of the Specialized Committee for Public Archaeology under the Chinese Society of Archaeology (CSA) and its forum on public archaeology was held in Chengdu, Sichuan Province, on April 1. Popularizing archaeology to the academic and mainstream communities was a hot topic discussed by experts at the meeting.

Transitioning into the public sphere

The CSA approved setting up specialized commissions related to public archaeology and other fields of archaeology earlier this year. Wang Wei, a CASS Member of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS) and director of the CSA and Institute of Archaeology under CASS, hailed the establishment of the Specialized Committee for Public Archaeology as a significant measure aimed at keeping up with timely developments and meeting the requirements of the public.

Professor Gao Menghe from the Department of Cultural Heritage and Museology at Fudan University has closely reviewed the development history of archaeology in China. “The content of work mainly revolved around discovery and research before the 1980s,” he said. “Today it encompasses more issues, including discovery, research, protection, utilization and heritage.” The development of public archaeology is part of this broader trend, Gao added.

Gao said archaeology in China should gradually realize three specific transitions. The first is a transition from the one based on a professional, research-oriented approach to study to general academia. The second is another transition from general academia to one based on culture. The final is a transition from the cultural sphere to the public one.

It is obvious the public knows little about the true content of archaeological work. The popularity of novels such as Ghost Blows Out the Light and Grave Robbers’ Chronicles by Xu Lei in addition to fictional TV programs based on hunting for lost treasures have led more people to recognize the financial value of cultural relics, rather than just their cultural and spiritual value. He Yun’ao, director of the Institute of Cultural and Natural Heritage at Nanjing University, said there is an urgent need from the public for archaeology in China to develop.

Influencing mainstream public opinion

The relationship between archaeological research and the public, protection of cultural relics, and influence of archaeological discoveries on modern society lie at the core of public archaeology. In 1972, the term “public archaeology” was first used in The Book of Public Archeology by archaeologist Charles R. McGimsey.

Liu Guoxiang, executive deputy director of the Center for Public Archaeology at Institute of Archaeology under CASS, said that public archaeology in China was promoted by Chinese archaeologist Su Bingqi. In 1950, he wrote an article titled “How to make archaeology the cause of people” that stated archaeology was a key area of study that serviced cultural construction.

Liu said that the development of public archaeology in China has undergone three periods. In the early years of the People's Republic of China, public archaeology adopted the main responsibility of popularizing archaeological knowledge. Archaeologists of the time were engaged in popular science readings, and put forward the idea of archaeology embracing other disciplines.

From the 1980s, popularization of archaeology began to deeply take root in people’s minds.

Since the 21st century, conferences such as “Archaeology and the Public: The Issue of the Popularization of Archaeological Knowledge” have preliminarily reached consensus within academic circles to further nurture public archaeology.

There is a continuous relationship between ancient and modern societies, cultures and peoples, claimed Wang Renxiang, research fellow at the Institute of Archaeology under CASS and director of the Specialized Committee for Public Archaeology under the CSA. Archaeologists are messengers for modern society and people, deciphering ancient information by revealing how it relates to modern society.

He Yun’ao also claimed that archaeology has significant theoretical value in finding out national cultural traditions, communicating historical context, revealing cultural variety and promoting cultural integration.

It is necessary to break down barriers between academic circles within archaeology and all sectors of society through the development of public archaeology to realize the broader social function of archaeology. Additionally, archaeology needs to influence opinion in the scientific and mainstream communities to eliminate prejudice and promote the protection and heritage of cultural relics.

Popularizing public archaeology

Promoting the development of public archaeology in China is a long-term, arduous task. In recent years, many Chinese institutions have made headway in this pursuit. The Institute of Archaeology under CASS teamed up with China Central Television for a documentary related to the Hongshan cultural relics, while the Sichuan Provincial Cultural Relics and Archaeology Research Institute constructed a virtual archaeological experience pavilion to popularize their work with the public.

Liu believes China’s vast geography and rich bounty of cultural relics determine the form and content of public archaeology, with development of the field supported by museums, and traditional and new media platforms. Furthermore, China should summarize its cultural characteristics through advancements in public archaeology that pave the way for greater discussion about the influence of Chinese culture on people worldwide.

Liu Xu, director of the Yunnan Provincial Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology, claimed that archaeological research should focus on specific eras, and that public archaeology should pay more attention to the interests and demands of contemporary groups. Efforts in public archaeology should relate to different public demands . The scope of public archaeology is vast, requiring ever increasing participation of social and cultural organizations rather than relying on the narrow pool of archaeological institutions and universities.

“Public archaeology efforts don’t only involve archaeologists. They also need the support of related academic institutions and governments at all levels,” said CSA director Wang Wei. “If archaeology can be further popularized, it will attract more attention and support from the public.”

The Chinese version appeared in Chinese Social Sciences Today, No. 581, April 9, 2014.
The Chinese link: http://www.csstoday.net/xueshuzixun/guoneixinwen/88752.html

Translated by Chen Meina
Revised by Tom Fearon