The Underwater Archaeology Forum, an event shedding light on the nuances of marine and canal archaeology, concluded on Monday in Jinan, in East China’s Shandong Province. The forum saw participation from more than 40 distinguished scholars and experts from 21 different institutions and was part of the National Archaeological Conference’s academic activities. The event was co-hosted by the Underwater Archaeology Specialized Committee of Chinese Archaeology and the Shandong Province Water-related Cultural Heritage Protection Research Society.
The forum was a dynamic platform where 13 comprehensive reports were presented, focusing on diverse aspects of marine and canal archaeology. Subjects such as advancements in underwater archaeological technology, the historical transformation of ports and harbors, and the protection and management of underwater cultural relics were rigorously discussed.
Tang Wei, the Director of the National Center for Archaeology, mentioned that the forthcoming 2023 Regulations for Underwater Archaeological Work will be implemented, providing scientific standardized norms for underwater archaeological operations. “The National Center for Archaeology will review underwater archaeological projects and carry out underwater archaeological surveys in East China and other regions, in line with the upcoming activities of the fourth national census of cultural relics,” Tang said.
Wang Shougong, a senior official of the Shandong Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism, highlighted the significant opportunities for underwater archaeology that the province of Shandong offers. Shandong is renowned as a crucial birthplace of Chinese civilization and Confucian culture. Wang explained that Shandong has been at the forefront of underwater archaeology, evidenced by the establishment of a research center for underwater archaeology in 2015. Furthermore, significant findings have resulted from underwater archaeological surveys of Dongping Lake and its submerged areas. Investigations into shipwrecks in Weihai Bay from the first Sino-Japanese War (1894-95) have also been conducted, offering valuable archaeological insights.
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