The Fourth International Academic Symposium on “Bronze Metallurgy and Xia-Shang Civilization,” part of the “Xiyin Forum,” kicked off on October 14th in Xia County, Shanxi Province—often regarded as the birthplace of Chinese archaeology. This event gathered over 40 experts from renowned institutions, including the British Museum, the French National Academy of Sciences, and universities such as Peking University and the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, to discuss the development of ancient metallurgy and its relationship with the Xia and Shang civilizations.
The Xia and Shang periods are pivotal in the development of Chinese civilization and represent a significant theme in archaeology. The Shanxi region, located to the east of the Loess Plateau and west of the Taihang Mountains, serves as a key area for exploring the Xia and Shang cultures. It offers insights into the political geography of these early dynasties and is crucial for understanding the formation and evolution of early states. Numerous archaeological sites, including Duxiaofeng, Yuanqu, Qianzhuang, and Jiuwutou, have begun to outline the foundational landscape for the study of Xia and Shang civilization in Shanxi.
Professor Frederik Rademakers from the British Museum presented a keynote lecture titled “Early Metallurgy in the Nile Valley: Challenges, Opportunities, and New Perspectives.” Meanwhile, Professor Oliver Pryce from the French National Academy discussed “Prehistoric Southwest Silk Road: Ancient Metallurgical Networks in the Southern Himalayas,” and Professor Pira Venunan from the Thailand University of the Arts provided insights into the metallurgy of the Bronze Age in Thailand.
In his presentation, Professor Zhu Fenghan from Peking University’s History Department analyzed archaeological findings to explain the sources of copper for the Shang people, suggesting that the Zhongtiao Mountains might have been a primary source for them. Professor Li Yanxiang from the University of Science and Technology Beijing focused on the survey and study of pre-Qin bronze mining sites, while Professor Chen Jianli from Peking University discussed technological innovations and management models in bronze metallurgy during the pre-Qin period. Additionally, Associate Researcher Nan Pu Heng from the Shanxi Provincial Archaeological Research Institute elaborated on the technological transformations in bronze production during the Spring and Autumn period.
Bai Xuebing, Deputy Director of the Shanxi Provincial Cultural Heritage Bureau, announced that in May 2024, a memorandum will be signed among eight archaeological research institutions from within and outside the province to establish a “Southern Shanxi Center for Xia-Shang Civilization Archaeology.” This collaborative effort aims to advance original and frontier archaeological research, striving for impactful results. Since its inception in 2019, the “Xiyin Forum” has hosted four sessions focusing on significant topics such as the 95th anniversary of the Xiyin site and the influence of the Xia period in China, garnering support from the academic community both domestically and internationally.
Lei Xing Shan, Deputy Director of the Xia-Shang Specialized Guidance Committee under the Chinese Archaeological Society, shared that there are plans to launch the “Research Project on the Shangxi Wang Civilization and Shang Dynasty Civilization in Southeast Loess Plateau,” which aims to center on Shanxi. This project seeks to clarify the archaeological chronology and development lineage of artifacts from the Jin and Shanxi areas during the Shang dynasty, fostering research on settlement societies and the progression of civilization, thereby positioning the study of Shanxi’s Xia-Shang culture as an international academic focal point.
