Expert Commentary on the Yinxu Beidi Ruins at Liujia Village in Anyang City, Henan Province

Expert Commentary by : Wang Wei, Research Fellow and Director of the Institute of Archaeology, CASS.
In his commentary about the important discoveries made at the Yinxu Beidi ruins at Liujia Village in Anyang City, Henan Province, Director Wang Wei pointed out that Yinxu was the birthplace of Chinese archaeology and that the discovery of the Beidi ruins in Liujia Village are representative of the excavations and research on Yinxu conducted by mainland scholars today. He believes that there are several reasons for why the excavations of the Beidi ruins at Liujia are significant.
    One of the reasons is the discovery of its main road. Urban layout is an integral part of the study of ancient cities and the study of the Yinxu main road is an important breakthrough which will hopefully provide systematic knowledge about the Yinxu road network. The second is that sacrificial relics can be found along both sides of the East-West road, a matter which requires in-depth research. It is worth noting that similar relics may also be found along the other roads there. The third is the discovery of a pottery kiln and the confirmation of the specialisation of handicraft industries. The degree of specialisation of handicraft industries is an important aspect of Yinxu research. Fourth, multidisciplinary methods from various natural sciences are being put to use in archaeological research. This multidisciplinary approach is a key trend in the development of present-day archaeological research and provides an unprecedented multi-faceted approach to the study of the Yinxu ruins. The fifth is the discovery of its wells, which is an important source of data for studying the water table and climate of that period and which we hope will yield some systematic knowledge in the near future.
Participants discussed the characteristics of the deep-well type storage-pit, the layout of Yinxu and its roadways, and how development work and scientists can interfere with one another when working under time constraints and pressure. Whether one is presiding over an excavation or is involved with the preservation of cultural relics, one must act in the best interests of the site and avoid damaging the relics.
 Translated by Kelly McGuire