Jointly sponsored by the Institute of Archaeology, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (IA CASS), the Culture Office of Inner Mongolia, Ordos Municipal Committee of the CPC, the Municipal Government of Ordos City, undertaken by Ordos Municipal Bureau and of Cultural Affai Ordos Municipal Bronze Museum, “International Seminar on Ordos Bronze” was held successfully in Ordos city from September 7, 2008 to September 9, 2008. Attendees included: Chai Xiaoming, director of Cultural Relics Preservation Department of the State Administration of Cultural Heritage, Bai Yunxiang, deputy director of the IA CASS, Wang Zhicheng, director of the Culture Office of Inner Mongolia delivered speeches during the opening ceremony. Bao Chongming, vice mayor of Ordos city, delivered a speech for the welcoming opening. Over 40 Papers were received from 60 official attendants and from both home and abroad.

     Four major topics were discussed during the conference. These included the Ordos bronzes, archaeological-cultural studies of the North bronze age and early Iron age, relationship between North grassland bronze culture with central plains bronze culture, and the “Steppe Silk Road” between Europe and Asia.

    Refering to Ordos bronze, a dozen delegates talked about their new discoveries such as ornamental designs for Chinese legendary animals, cloud patterned ornaments designs as well as numerious kinds of bronze ornaments for: belt, buckle or waistband, the alloy composition for the wares, and the usage of the wares and the Ordos bronzes founded in Shanbei region were also discussed at the meeting.

    Relating to the Bronze age and early Iron age archaeology cultures in the North, over 10 scholars discussed the following topics:  the cultures of Bronze age and early Iron age in south-central region of Inner Mongolia, the Yuhuangmiao culture, the bronzes in Liao river valley, bronze mirrors with geometric patterns in northeast region of Asia, the use and function of bronze dagger, the bronzes of Upper Xiajiadian culture, the bronze helmet of Upper Xiajiadian culture, the San Zuodian walled site of the Lower Xiajiadian culture in Chifeng, painted pottery pattern of the Lower Xiajiadian culture cemetery Dadianzi, Xianbei relics in Ordos, the sacrificial animals in burials of North bronze cultures, and the early iron objects in the steppe area.

    In addition, there were scholars also making statements on: the archaeological settlements of ancient nomadic culture, the Hun official seal of Han dynasty unearthed newly, the prehistoric rock paintings on the mountain of Xingjiang Bogda glacier, the Kara Khan tomb in Kashi, Xingjiang, and the mural painting in tomb No.1 of Han dynasty Fenghuangshan cemetery in Etuoke Banner etc.

    Through presentations and discussions, the delegates exchanged the updated information and showed their latest research results. This work has deepened our understanding to Ordos bronze and Steppe bronze cultures, deepened our understanding to the importance of Ordos bronze culture in forming and developing not only the Steppe nomadic culture but also Chinese ancient civilization as a whole, deepened our understanding to the in pact of the Ordos plateau in the ancient cultural exchanges between Eurasian steppe. At the same time, the delegates brought up many new issues, which enlightened us on the further research to Ordos bronze and the Steppe bronze cultures in the future.

    Within the brief span two days, delegates had an active discussion on some issues involved the Ordos bronze and made a great deal of achievements. Bai Yunxiang, Vice director of IA CASS, spoke highly of the seminar in the closing speech.  This seminar, speaking no matter from studying, presenting issues or the enlightenment for the future development, will give us a positive promotion on the further studying to the Ordos bronze and the North grassland bronze culture.

 

Translated by Yang Jie and Mark Davis