A scene of the forum Photo: Zhu Gaolei/CSSN
SHANGHAI—On Dec. 16, the Sixth Shanghai Archaeology Forum, co-hosted by the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS), the Shanghai Municipal People’s Government, and the National Cultural Heritage Administration (NCHA), was held in Shanghai, under the theme of “Technology, Society, and Archaeology.” Gao Xiang, president of CASS and director general of the Chinese Academy of History under CASS; Gong Zheng, mayor of Shanghai; and Qiao Yunfei, deputy director of the NCHA, attended the opening ceremony and delivered remarks.
In his speech, Gao stated that President Xi Jinping places great importance on archaeological work. Guided by a strong sense of cultural consciousness and confidence, Xi has emphasized tracing historical origins and exploring the veins of Chinese civilization, while paying close attention to advancing archaeological endeavors in the new era and supporting a series of widely recognized achievements. At present, a new wave of technological innovation and industrial transformation is gaining momentum, with cutting-edge technologies—represented by artificial intelligence—evolving rapidly, converging across fields, and becoming major driving forces in the development of archaeology.
Gao called on scholars to position themselves at the intersection of history and the present, employ rigorous scientific methods to uncover fine-grained evidence from material remains, understand the principles of historical evolution, and illuminate the deeper logic connecting technological progress and social development. He also stressed the importance of probing the underlying mechanisms of civilizational progress, developing research approaches that integrate multiple forms of evidence, and continuously enhancing holistic understanding of historical and cultural phenomena.
“This is a golden age for archaeology and archaeologists,” Gao said, urging efforts to strengthen dialogue and exchange between history and archaeology, approach archaeological discoveries with a broader academic mindset and wider academic perspectives, and meaningfully contribute to presenting the true history of humanity to the world.
In his remarks, Gong emphasized President Xi Jinping’s view that archaeological research provides the academic foundation for the proper utilization of cultural heritage, and that history cannot be understood without archaeology. He pledged that Shanghai, as one of China’s major historical and cultural cities, will work to deepen the exploration of archaeological resources, intensify the activation and utilization of cultural relics, and broaden the scope of exchange and mutual learning among civilizations. Taken together, these efforts will consolidate the historical foundations of cultural confidence, deepen society’s engagement with history and culture, and lend solid support to Shanghai’s development into a modern international socialist metropolis with global influence.
Noting that the forum had brought together archaeologists and well-known scholars from China and abroad, Gong expressed hope that the resulting collision of ideas would inject fresh momentum into the flourishing of archaeology and offer new inspiration for people around the world to draw lessons from the past and shape a better future.
Qiao called for thoroughly implementing Xi Jinping’s Thought on Culture, acting on the Global Civilization Initiative, and advancing international cooperation in areas such as joint archaeology, restoration of cultural heritage sites, protection of world heritage, museum exhibitions, and talent cultivation, thereby continuously expanding the breadth and depth of civilizational dialogue.
He also suggested strengthening academic exchange and jointly exploring the application of digital technologies, artificial intelligence, and related tools in archaeological discovery and analysis. He encouraged collaborative research on major issues such as human origins, the origins of civilizations, and the emergence of states, with the aim of deepening understanding of the patterns governing civilizational evolution.
In addition, Qiao underscored the need to advance practical cooperation in cultural heritage monitoring, risk management, and the fight against illicit trafficking of cultural property. He called for proactive responses to shared challenges, including climate change and the threat of war, and for collective efforts to safeguard the shared heritage of humanity.
At the opening ceremony, Shi Jinsong, deputy director general of the Institute of Archaeology at CASS, announced 22 major field discoveries and significant archaeological research achievements showcased at the forum.
The forum featured a wide range of activities, including keynote speeches, scholarly presentations, public archaeology lectures, and academic research tours. A special session on new discoveries and research in Chinese archaeology highlighted recent achievements, presenting them to an international audience. More than 300 experts and scholars from over 40 countries and regions took part in the forum, engaging in discussions on topics such as scientific analysis and dating techniques, comparative studies of cultural interaction, archaeology of settlement patterns and urban sites, the disciplinary nature and methodologies of archaeology, digital and computational archaeology, craftsmanship and traditions, cultural heritage preservation and public archaeology, as well as underwater archaeology and water resource management.
The event was co-organized by the Institute of Archaeology at CASS, the Department of Archaeology at the NCHA, the Shanghai Municipal Administration of Cultural Heritage, the Shanghai Academy (a joint initiative of CASS and the Shanghai Municipal People’s Government), and Shanghai University.