PANEL 1 SESSION B
(panel chair: Dr. Kazuo Miyamoto of Kyushu University)

Li Suting
Henan Provincial Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology
“New archaeological finds from Xiaoshangqiao, Zhengzhou”

Ms. Li presented the archaeological work and findings of Zhengzhou Xiaoshuangqiao site. Archaeological studies has revealed agriculture to be the primary industry in the area, supplemented by rice cultivation. Chemical composition analysis revealed that pottery shards in the style of the Erligang culture and Yueshi culture shared similar origins for its raw material.

Liang Chao
Xiangyang Municipal Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology
“Conservation Plan of the Hubei Xiangyang Deng State Archaeological Site”

Mr. Liang’s institute, the Xiangyang Municipal Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology, organized a special mini-exhibition on the Xiangyang Deng State Ancient Site in conjunction with the conference. His presentation introduced the same topic. The Deng state was a vassal state, and the site has been confirmed to be the location of the state capital, from the late Western Zhou to the Spring and Autumn period, and the location of the seat of the county government in the Chu period and Qin, Han, Tang and Song dynasties. Mr. Liang presented on the excavation results and conservation and long-term plans of the site, including the construction of a national archaeological site park.

He Yuling
The Institute of Archaeology, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences
“The drainage and its relevant issues at the Shang cities of Huanbei and Yinxu”

Mr. He presented on the water systems of the late Shang period Huanbei Shang city and Yinxu. In the preliminary stages of the construction of an ancient city, the situation of water systems in the surrounding area need to be taken into serious consideration. Research has indicated that Huanbei Shang City and Yinxu were both dependent on the use of wells.

PANEL 1 SESSION C
(panel chair: Mr. Yang Shugang of the Henan Provincial Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology)

Wan Jiao
The Sichuan Provincial Cultural Relics and Archaeology Research Institute
“A preliminary study of the formation and development of the walled site at Sanxingdui”

Ms. Wan’s presentation focused on Sanxingdui city. Excavation efforts have confirmed the existence of an east, south and west wall, which have enabled archaeologists to have a basic understanding of the scope of the Sanxingdui city area. More recently discovered are two clearly-defined small towns, and archaeologists have been able to analyze their development: Yueliangwan town was constructed first, and afterwards Sanxingdui small town was established, and the construction period of the final form of the big city was close in time to that of Cangbaobao town’s construction.

Lei Yu
The Sichuan Provincial Cultural Relics and Archaeology Research Institute
“Latest archaeological and conservation works at Sanxingdui”

Mr. Lei presented on the recent archaeological work and development of the Sanxingdui archaeological site, including 17 smaller-scale Shang-Zhou period sites that were discovered in Shangyoudi area, allowing an outline of the Sanxingdui group of sites to gradually appear. At the same time, with the discovery of different palatial areas and city walls, the layout and construction of the Sanxingdui city site has become more clear.

Zhang Changping
Wuhan University
“Archaeology and conservation of major sites: the case of Panlongcheng”

Using the Panlongcheng site as an example, Dr. Zhang introduced concepts related to major site conservation. Concepts discussed include how to define a major site and the relationship between archaeological site parks and museums. Dr. Zhang pointed out that a major site is not necessarily defined as such according to the area size of the site, but is based more on its academic and societal value. Dr. Zhang expressed that he believes an effective archaeological site park and museum should have exhibitions that have the public interest in mind, and display artifacts in their historical context or setting, allowing the public to have a deeper understanding.

PANEL 2
(panel chair: Mr. Liu Jianguo of The Institute of Archaeology, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences)

Kazuo Miyamoto
Kyushu University, Japan
“Exploring the definitions of early states and cities: from Taosi, Erlitou towards the Shang cities”

Dr. Miyamoto’s presentation was organized according to the six essential factors that have been set forth by P. Skalnik and Claeesen in defining what constitutes an early state. Using these six factors, Erlitou culture can be categorized as gradually having formed into an early state, and compared with the Shang culture, was at the embryonic stages of early state formation.

Zhang Guoshuo
Zhengzhou University
“A discussion on the verification methods of Xia and Shang city sites”

Dr. Zhang explained the verification methods for Xia and Shang capital city sites. Objective criteria include whether the city site has a large-scale city wall, a palace-temple, royal tombs, high-level handicraft workshops, and other factors. Thus information from carbon-14 dating is not the only verification standard, and many other criteria are taken into consideration.

Celine Lai
The Chinese University of Hong Kong
“Establishing a database of Anyang Bronzes for identifying the network of contacts”

Dr. Lai discussed the use of image recognition in artificial intelligence to identify or correct known regional relationships among different bronze-using societies: firstly, the use of artificial intelligence to calculate and compare the external forms of bronzes from each region; secondly, to use artificial intelligence to calculate the most likely area of production for bronzes that are of unknown origins.