The founding ceremony of the Sichuan University Center for Archaeological Science was held in the National Entrepreneurship and Innovation Demonstration Base of our university on November 18. Guan Qiang, deputy director of the State Administration of Cultural Heritage, and Gan Lin, chairman of the university council attended the founding ceremony. Also present at the ceremony were relevant leaders and scholars including Chen Xingcan, the director of the Archaeological Research Institute of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, Wu Xiaohong, a professor of Peking University, Huo Wei, a distinguished professor of SCU, vice presidents Yao Leye, Chu Liangyin, Ye Ling, You Jinsong, and heads of relevant work units. Vice President Yao Leye chaired the founding ceremony.
Guan Qiang said in his speech that the State Administration of Cultural Heritage would continue to support the development of the archaeological discipline of Sichuan University, and hoped that SCU would further open up cooperation, making greater contributions to the building of an academic system, discipline system and discourse system of Chinese archaeology.
The establishment of the Center is an important measure for the university to implement the spirit of the important speech of President Xi Jinping as well as the decision of the CPC central committee. The Center has received strong support from the Sichuan provincial Party committee of the CPC, the Sichuan provincial government and relevant departments. The center should always benchmark the first-class standard, produce first-class achievements, cultivate first-class talent, and build an archaeological science center that is among the best in China and has international influence as soon as possible.
At the meeting, the leaders jointly unveiled the Sichuan University Center for Archaeological Science. The center is composed of archaeological dating laboratory, molecular archaeology laboratory, archaeological materials and cultural relics protection laboratory, geoscientific archaeology laboratory and archaeological resource library containing more than 10,000 pieces/sets of samples from both home and abroad. The Center will focus on the origin and evolution of ancient civilizations, the origin of regional prehistoric society and civilization, ancient technology, key technologies for cultural relics protection and conduct interdisciplinary collaboration, deepen international exchanges and cooperation, and explain the historical origin of a community with a shared future for mankind.
