On Nov. 7–8, the Chinese School of Classical Studies at Athens (CSCSA) under the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS) hosted an event in Athens to commemorate its first anniversary. Marking this milestone, the gathering summarized and reviewed the institution’s achievements over the past year, showcasing the groundbreaking progress Chinese archaeology has made in multidisciplinary, integrated research, and further highlighting its growing academic value in interpreting the essence and historical evolution of Chinese civilization.

Li Xinwei, director of the CSCSA, stated that archaeological research offers some of the richest and most compelling material evidence of exchanges and mutual learning among world civilizations. Since the launch of the project tracing the origins of Chinese civilization and the “Archaeology of China” project, scholars have gained deeper insights into the formation, development, and prominent features of Chinese civilization, along with new theoretical interpretations. At the same time, Chinese archaeologists have expanded their work globally, conducting field research in the heartlands of ancient Egyptian, Indus Valley, and Mesoamerican civilizations, steadily cultivating a global perspective in civilizational studies.

The key to understanding China’s Bronze Age and its regional bronze cultures lies in bronze artifacts, emphasized Shi Jinsong, deputy director general of the Institute of Archaeology at CASS. These objects not only epitomize the technological and cultural achievements of the Bronze Age but also embody certain values, making them the most representative indicators of a civilization’s development. While bronze vessels varied widely in type and function across regions, exchange and interaction resulted in many shared features, creating a diverse yet interconnected picture of China’s Bronze Age civilizations.

Theodora Antonopoulou, a professor of philology at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, praised the event for presenting an unusually broad chronological span—from early civilizations to the Han (206 BCE–220 CE) and Tang (618–907) dynasties—showcasing a panoramic view of Chinese archaeology. Although her research focuses primarily on ancient Greek and Byzantine texts, she said the exhibition of archaeological materials at the event revealed historical layers that resonate with the periods she studies, illustrating the dynamic interplay between textual sources and material evidence.

Yannos G. Lolos, a professor emeritus of prehistoric archaeology at the University of Ioannina in Greece, noted that the event’s presentation of Chinese archaeological research covered an exceptionally wide geographic range. It deepened his understanding of the pivotal roles played by Xinjiang and Xizang in interactions between Chinese and Western civilizations.

These regions, he said, served not only as vital corridors of the Silk Road but also frontier spaces where Eastern and Western cultures, artistic traditions, and material civilizations converged. Interpreting archaeological discoveries from the northern and western regions of the Qinghai–Xizang Plateau enables researchers to expose ancient transportation routes, trade networks, and cultural dissemination, offering tangible case studies of China-West exchanges in antiquity.

Christopher De Lisle, an associate professor of classics and ancient history at Durham University in the United Kingdom, remarked that China’s investment and advancements in classical studies in recent years have been particularly remarkable, with the establishment of the CSCSA as a prime example. The institution, he said, provides an important platform for classicists worldwide to showcase their achievements and deepen academic exchanges.

Bonna D. Wescoat, director of the American School of Classical Studies at Athens, congratulated the CSCSA on its achievements and expressed anticipation for deeper collaboration going forward. She noted that bronze belts and ornaments unearthed in Chinese archaeological excavations are rarely seen in Greek contexts. Meanwhile, stringed instruments from Xinjiang—whether excavated or depicted in murals—resemble those of ancient Greece, serving as valuable evidence of artistic and musical exchanges between East and West and reflecting the depth of both material and cultural mutual learning in the ancient world.

The exhibition of Chinese archaeological findings combines unique regional charm with rich cultural dynamism, offering a genuine “exotic allure” of the East, commented Evangelia Karagiannidou, a junior scholar from the French School at Athens. She added that relying solely on a single chronological framework to understand human civilization risks overlooking the diverse perspectives on time and developmental trajectories across cultures. The event, she said, prompted her to reflect on the relationship between time and civilization, offering profound inspiration.