On October 18th, the “Paying Tribute to Cultural Relics” series of events launched with the exhibition titled “Continuing the Journey: Archaeological Discoveries and Cultural Relics Protection and Utilization Achievements in Contemporary Guangzhou” at the South Han Dynasty Mausoleum Museum in Guangzhou. This exhibition will run until December 1, 2024.
Guangzhou, one of the first national historical and cultural cities, boasts a rich history of human activity spanning five to six thousand years and over 2,200 years since its establishment. This city is a treasure trove of cultural relics.
The exhibition highlights a range of achievements in archaeological work within Guangzhou since the new era, divided into five main sections: “Legal Protection,” “Archaeological Discoveries,” “Cultural Relic Protection,” “Maritime Silk Road Heritage Application,” and “Transmission and Heritage.” It features 220 pieces (or sets) of artifacts unearthed during recent archaeological excavations, alongside a collection of valuable documents and audiovisual materials.
Since the beginning of the new era, Guangzhou has made significant strides in enhancing a “prehistoric archaeology” work mechanism, establishing special funds for cultural relic protection, reinforcing safety supervision for artifacts, and actively leading efforts to protect and apply for heritage status for the Maritime Silk Road. Numerous underground relics have been discovered, rescued, and protected through these initiatives.
The prehistoric archaeology findings in the Guangzhou area have been abundant, with significant discoveries at sites such as the Shixiang Ruins in Conghua, the Jinlan Temple site in Zengcheng, and others like Zhaoqing and Guangdong Guangya Middle School. These findings have greatly enriched the archaeological record from the prehistoric and pre-Qin periods in Guangzhou, providing critical physical evidence to understand the human society of 6,000 to 2,000 years ago and the evolution and integration of Lingnan culture within the broader Chinese cultural landscape.
Notable artifacts on display include a Han Dynasty ceramic owl-shaped five-section jar and a green-glazed chicken-head pot, both classified as first-class cultural relics, along with exquisite pieces such as a ceramic deer-shaped lamp and stamped inscription pottery. Visitors will gain insights into the burial customs, beliefs about life and death, and daily life of Guangzhou’s ancestors. Additionally, significant archaeological discoveries from projects like the Xiaoma Station and other sites document Guangzhou’s continuous development over the past 2,200 years since its city formation.
In recent times, Guangzhou has implemented various effective measures to enhance the protection and utilization of immovable cultural relics. The city is fostering urban archaeology and the preservation of archaeological heritage while improving the protection system for historical and cultural cities. This exhibition showcases the important achievements in protecting movable cultural relics, archaeological heritage, and historic buildings. Some artifacts from projects like the 2024 construction of the pangolin exhibit at the Guangzhou Zoo and the restoration of lacquerware unearthed from the Dongshan Grand Tomb will be displayed to the public for the first time.
