No Shaolin Here Please!

A post by 中国的另一端 (Winner of China Blog Awards 2007 - Best News Blog) caught my attention this couple of days. Look at the photo nicely cropped out "Mr.Viceroy of Xinjiang". The post is about an archaelogical site in Tuva. Its in regard to what Tuvans will do to an excavation site found near Lake Tere-Khol. Here is what quoted from The Opposite End China:

The site is being excavated and renovated with hopes that it can become a lucrative tourist attraction for a very remote part of Russia populated mostly by ethnic Tuvans. Sergei Shoigu, who is a native Tuvan and holds the fantastic title of Russian Minister for Extraordinary Situations, said:

"We shall build there a Russian Shaolin and invite everybody to come there. And our youth will come I am sure. They will learn philosophy, Tibetan medicine, horseracing, and oriental martial arts in there."

Madness, this is a treasure for the Russians! Not to be used for commercial purpose dude. Imagine the amount of information buried within this fortress. There could be leads to how life is for one of the four brother who ventured out of China since Yuan Dynasty belongs Mr. Khan himself. The fortress itself in the middle of of lake should be something of research value on how such a project is carried out by people of the past, especially to a bunch who ride on horses.

Of course, there are also people perhaps against such ideas, quoted from Tuva-Online:

In Tuva itself an attitude to these great plans is not unanimously positive. Tuvan scientists are afraid of the improper restoration works substituted by new construction. Ordinary people think that the fortress become a visit place of only rich people as not any would be able to afford a air flight to the place.

My Tuvans, if you ever gonna do something, please don't destroy something of such values. Let's put it this way. Its like asking Sharika to dance in thongs and preeching Tibetian Scriptures. You'll be a laughing stock to any cultural heritage organisation out there if its gonna be improvised. No shaolin on this fortress please!

Basic Principles of Field Archaeology

1. What is Field Archaeology?

Field Archaeology is the research and study of History through actual field study on site visit, retreiving data in the from site for multiple studies usage. Ancient monuments, relicsm artifacts can exists in various forms. They can be exposed above the ground, buried or even hidden beneath the waters. In order to be understood by us humans, and function as a service for easier studies and understanding of the past, Field Archaeology uses scientific approaches in finding, excavating, identifying, researching, searching and recording such outfield activities. The process will then be properly sorted out, publicise and publish out for the public, researchers and the scientists.

One must also take note the following terms in archaeology:

Relics are movable objects from the pasts. They were created by Man for certain usages in their aspects of life.

Monuments are immovable objects. Monuments are architectural. They can be walls, towers, aquaducts or any other forms built by ancient man.

Artifacts are objects found that could be used at that period of time for certain activities. Artifacts could be in the form of food, seashells, animal bones, ashes.

With the proper scientific approach when excavating, we can access and understand how the people in the past live and function in their daily life.

The role of Field Archaeology is the searching for data, such data which could help in researching and understanding the historical advancement of man. Such data are left down by Man in the forms of Relics and Monuments. We must also understanding there is a close connection and influence of the geographical data and artifacts found on site dug out which could tell us a bigger picture of what is going on in the past. Artifacts dug out like animals bones, sea shells, soil specimens and pollen could tell us what kind of main activities affect the lifestyle of Man at the period. Such searching and excavation for data is cross-disciplinary and diverse: it can be in the form of housings, farms, burial sites; it can be also in the form of musical instruments, military weapons, art objects used in daily life, material wise is can be made known more from created pieces, undone pieces or rubbish of the past; or data can be collected as a whole civilisation, a town, a city, canals, to the smallest specimen of seeds, fauna, and insects. Field Archaeology's significance determination is depending on how well acccessed and recording and dissemination of their findings is done. The better and more data collected, information can be processed for further knowledge of the past to be formed.

2. Fieldwork activities and approach

The activities in Field Archaeology can be in the forms of site study and research, excavation and sorting out of data(cleaning). These are the basics of work carried out. We should take note that during the studies and excavation of fieldwork, we should not damage or destroy the existing relic, monument and artifacts on site. From the activities carried out, there should be proper site study, recording, proper choosing and collection of data found via excavation through the foundation and concept that we will and should preserve and protect our findings. Excavation work is through digging process, we show out the excavated site and monument, collect relics and recording of all phenomenons found. Cleansing is the process in which we pieces out and show relics as their original form. Many a times during excavation, due to the geographical factors of site, relics and monuments found are never wholly in one piece. That is why cleansing is a very important process in which archaeologist do to make known their findings to the public. One must also take note that there should minimal damage during cleansing, and activities carried out during cleansing can be reversible and not permanent fixtures to findings.

3. Archaeological work process

Archaelogical work preparation can be identified as 4 processes: preparation, fieldwork, indoor classfication and analysis of findings, publishing or field report findings.

4. Professional qualities needed by Field Archaeologists

Field Archaeologists should be healthy and fit for outfield work.
Uphold and have professional practices and ethics in findings.
Adept in the practices and knowlege in field archaeolgical practices.
Familiar with previous archaeological reports and findings of work.
Diverse and wide general knowledge.
Adept in archaeological needs in photography, measurement, video production for recording purposes.

Questions:
1. Explain the concept in artifacts, relics and monuments.
2. What are the various process in archaeological work?
3. As Field Archaeologists, what are the professional qualities needed?
4. Why do we say that field archaeology is the basic activities for collectiing of scientific data, as while as the first step in the scientific research and study of ancient artifacts?
5. Why is writing an archaeological report the role of Field Archaeology?

Reading Materials:
《考古工作手册》，中国社科院考古研究所编，文物出版社， 1982 年。
Time, Process and Structured Transformation in Archaeology (One World Archaeology)
Archaeology in Practice: Archaeological
Excavation (Cambridge Manuals in Archaeology)
The Archaeologist's Fieldwork Companion
The Archaeology Handbook: A Field Manual and Resource Guide
Field Methods in Archaeology
Sampling in Archaeology (Cambridge Manuals in Archaeology)

China's terracotta tomb site hides mystery building

For Lara Croft fans or people interested in treasure hunting, one cannot be missing the elementally huge mausoleum of Qin Shi Huang, the first emperor to unify China. The hidden site of Emperor was accidentally discovered by peasants in Xi'an, 1974, when they were digging a well.

The tomb of Qin is as sacred to the Chinese as of the rumored tomb of Ghengis Khan to the Mongolians. It signify a national pride in identity unique to each race and country. Qin was responsible in uniting China and building the world wonder Great of China (not Great Fire Wall) to curb attacks from raiding barbarians at the border.

Since then, the tomb helped in rewriting the history of China, making research richer in content and not hypo-theoretical texts found in chapters written by Sima Qian during Han Dynasty. In the burial site, a grand army of human size terracotta warriors and horses were left to guard the King's tomb from disturbance. Recent discovery by researchers and archaeologists deemed that there was a 30 metres tall building buried in the mausoleum. Some researchers deemed the building as a portal in which the emperor ascend to heaven from. It took them 5 years to come out with this hypo-thesis.

Five years is not a long time. We must take note that the tomb was 2000 years ago underground, with it sealed up from the outside world. When air rush into tomb, it good cause rapid disintegration to the site. Improper disturbance to it might cause great damage and loss of it forever. Relics and cultural heritage is prone to damages, and improper and rush actions could to lead to deterioration of site which is irreversible. Personally, I would rather a slower time to scan and figure out the remains than to know the content of the tomb in a short period, losing valuable resources in the way. There had been already too many loss of historical information by past mistakes made in China. Even the controversial evaluation to build a hydro-dam at the three gorges pushed thousands of cultural sites to be not reachable to researchers. If there is proper fund and professional help in ensuring the best possible research technique, then 5 years is nothing.

Until now, China is facing lack of funds in excavation and archaeological works. Most archaeological works were carried out as emergency through sudden discovery of sites as site rescue. Only certain international known sites were given more attention. Site were usually reburied to enable further research in the future when more funds and technical skills is accessible to China.

And for Lara Croft's lovers, no, this post is not about treasure hunting. Its about protecting things we have and what we value. Hoho. Too bad.

source: Shanghai Daily

THE tomb of China's first emperor, guarded for more than 2,000 years by 8,000 terracotta warriors and horses, has yielded up another archaeological secret, Reuters reported.

After five years of research, archaeologists have confirmed that a 30-metre-high building is buried in the vast mausoleum of Emperor Qinshihuang near the former capital, Xi'an, in the northwestern province of Shaanxi, Xinhua news agency said today.

Duan Qingbo, a researcher with Shaanxi Institute of Archaeology, said the building might have been constructed for the soul of the emperor to depart.

Archaeologists have been using remote sensing technology since 2002 to study the internal structure of the unexcavated mausoleum.

They concluded that the building, buried above the main tomb, had four surrounding stair-like walls with nine steps each, Xinhua said....

Kelantan inviting archaeological researchers

source: the stars malaysia

By IAN MCINTYRE>

KOTA BARU: Kelantan is inviting researchers to ascertain archaeological findings that claim that the oldest form of civilisation in Malaysia, besides the oldest human fossils and artefacts, were located in the state.

This will put to rest ongoing debates over where civilisation originated from in the country, state museum board chairman Datuk Takiyuddin Hassan said.

"Some say the Perak Man is the oldest (10,000 years-old) but we have research evidence to indicate that civilisation began here (Ulu Kelantan) some 12,000 years ago," he said after opening a month-long archaelogical exhibition of the Nenggiri Ulu Valley, which is a Masters research study of National Museum and Antiquities Department director-general Datuk Dr Adi Haji Taha here.

He said the state would welcome input from all, including international researchers and historians to ascertain the claims.

Nenggiri Ulu, which is part of Ulu Kelantan, now called Gua Musang, has a cave system where evidence of neolithic life has been found and the present orang asli community are said to be their descendents.

According to Takiyuddin, research done has unveiled strong suspicions that there was a a pre-Islamic Malay Kingdom in Ulu Kelantan from where the legendary Princess Ruler of Kelantan - "Puteri Saadon" - originated from.

This raised questions over whether the preception that the oldest civilisation should was in Perak or Malacca, were accurate, Takiyuddin said.

The findings from various caves in Gua Musang, could help provide answers to questions that have long intrigued scholars of Kelantan's early history, Takiyuddin said.

He said the state was also seeking to reclaim some of its artefacts currently located at the Cambridge University in England.

Takiyuddin also announced that a local university student is conducting research to acertain if the Chinese settlement in Pulai, Gua Musang, is the oldest settlement for the Oriental folks in Malaysia.

If there is an effort to provide conclusive evidence, Kelantan's place in Malaysia would take a different dimension and bring value to its standing as the cradle of Malay culture, Takiyuddin said.

It can boost more archaeological works besides offering spin-off opportunities in tourism and culture, Takiyuddin said.

In a related development, Takiyuddin said the state plans to establish an artefacts museum in Gua Musang soon to coincide with the "Visit Kelantan 2008" campaign.

He said the state will work with the national museums department to facilitate the process including ensuring that the museum setting is situated next to the cave system there.

Takiyuddin said the state would preserve the natural settings