“ ‘The Fourth Archaeological Excavation of the Yangshao Village Site in Mianchi’ was selected as ‘the Special Attention New Archaeological Discovery’ of Henan province, which not only shows encouragement and support for the cultural relics and archaeological work of Sanmenxia, but also gives great affirmation and esteem for the important significance and far-reaching influence of Yangshao culture in the process of Chinese civilization.” Zheng Lichao, the director of the Sanmenxia Cultural Relics and Archaeology Research Institute said in an interview on March 21st . 

On March 19th , “ the 2020 Henan Archaeological Discovery Forum” guided by the Henan Provincial Administration of Cultural Heritage and held by the Henan Cultural Relics and Archaeology Society and the editorial department of “China Archaeology” took place in Sanmenxia. Nearly 20 archaeological experts from the archaeological research units, universities and the archaeological institutions of the Academy of Social Sciences in Henan gathered to select the “Five New Archaeological Discoveries in Henan Province in 2020” through presentations, reviews, and voting. The Shuanghuaishu site in Gongyi, the Shizhuang site in Huaiyang, the Xuyang cemetery in Yichuan, Luoyang, the Eastern Han cemetery site in Baicaopo, Luoyang, and the Xuanwumen site in Luoyang City during the Sui and Tang Dynasties were successfully selected. It is worth nothing that the Henan Archaeological Discovery Forum has been held for 12 consecutive sessions. Unlike previous years, this time the “Special Attention New Archaeological Discovery” was set up for the first time and “The Fourth Archaeological Excavation of the Yangshao Village Site in Mianchi” was unanimously selected by experts and won this honor.

Liu Haiwang, executive chairman of the Henan Cultural Relics and Archaeology Society and president of the Henan Provincial Institute of Cultural Heritage and Archaeology said that different from the “Five New Archaeological Discoveries”, “the Fourth Archaeological Excavation of the Yangshao Village Site in Mianchi” was rated as “the Special Attention New Archaeological Discovery”, and this selection result is also of great significance. Yangshao Village is the origin of Chinese Archaeology, which reflects the century-long history of Chinese archaeology. What’s more, there are also some new discoveries this time, providing new materials for understanding Yangshao Culture.

The first archaeological excavation of the Yangshao Village site in Mianchi County began in 1921, and the fourth excavation was launched in August 2020. There are many remains and cultural relics unearthed this time, which play an important role in furthering the understanding of the cultural connotation of the Yangshao Village Site, improving the settlement layout, functional zoning, and the development and evolution of settlement forms, digging deeper into the connotation and value of the Yellow River culture, and exploring the complication and civilization process of the prehistoric society in western Henan. 

This year marks the 100th anniversary of the discovery of Yangshao Culture and is also the 100th anniversary of the birth of Chinese archaeology. As the place where the Yangshao Village site locates, Sanmenxia will hold the international commemorative meeting of the 100th anniversary of the Discovery of Yangshao Culture & the 100th anniversary of the birth of Chinese archaeology. 

“This forum will be held in Sanmenxia, which will not only warm up the “Double Centennial” commemorative event but help us learn from the latest archaeological research results and better promote the development of cultural relics and archaeology in Sanmenxia.” Zheng Lichao said, “As an important part of the Yellow River culture, we will pay more attention to the excavation and research of Yangshao Culture and comprehensively and profoundly reveal its rich cultural connotation in the future, in order to contribute the archaeological power from Sanmenxia to digging deeper into the cultural connotation of the Yellow River and studying the civilization process of the Central Plains.”

It is known that a number of cultural heritages in Henan Province, including Yangshao Village, have been included in “the Outline of the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-2025) for National Economic and Social Development and the Long-Range Objectives Through the Year 2035.