Shanxi achieves significant archaeological advancements

The 2025 Shanxi Archaeological Project Report Meeting was held in Taiyuan, Shanxi province, on March 14. During the event, 25 significant archaeological findings were showcased, covering periods as far as back as prehistoric times all the way up to the Ming (1368-1644) and Qing (1644-1911) dynasties, highlighting Shanxi's latest advancements in archaeology.

The projects presented at the meeting highlighted a series of groundbreaking discoveries, including the Yangshao settlement in Xiaxian county and the Longshan structures in Qingshui county. These findings further enrich the diverse yet unified nature of Chinese civilization.

As an important birthplace of Chinese civilization, Shanxi has in recent years played an important role in major national archaeological initiatives such as the Chinese Civilization Origin-Tracing Project, Archaeology China, and the Xia (c.21st century-16th century BC) and Shang (c.16th century-11th century BC) Dynasties Project.

In 2025, Shanxi conducted 1,887 archaeological surveys, 1,054 infrastructure explorations, and over 200 excavations. Its first Central Asian archaeological team began fieldwork in Uzbekistan, marking a new chapter in international cooperation for Shanxi archaeology.

Yu Zhenlong, deputy director of the Shanxi Culture Relics Bureau, expressed hopes of further deepening participation in national projects. He also emphasized the importance of enhancing international academic exchanges, accelerating the construction of research platforms, and boosting technological innovation in archaeological work.