China releases six major archaeological achievements

On January 14, the first major achievement conference of 2026 by the Key Laboratory of Archaeological Science and Cultural Heritage Protection of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS) was held at the Chinese Academy of History, unveiling six significant archaeological breakthroughs.

The conference was hosted by the CASS and co-organized by the Bureau of Scientific Research under the CASS, the Chinese Academy of History, the Institute of Archaeology of CASS, and the University of Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.

Key achievements unveiled:

1. World-class standard library of zooarchaeological resources

The "Report on the Construction of China's Animal Resource Specimen Bank" introduces a dual-component repository: the Ancient Chinese Animal Specimen Bank and the Living Chinese Animal Specimen Bank. It systematically collects over 100,000 specimens, including ancient animal bone fossils from 121 archaeological sites across 26 provinces and regions and valuable living animal specimens nationwide. Multidisciplinary research on these specimens will provide crucial scientific evidence for the study of Chinese civilization.

2. Innovative paradigm for field archaeology and cultural relic protection

Taking the laboratory conservation project of the 2018 Xuewei No. 1 Tomb as an example, the achievement proposes an integrated working model of "precision excavation + emergency protection + restoration research". This approach has enabled the scientific restoration of numerous precious cultural relics, such as lacquered horse armor and a gilded bronze armor — the only surviving Tang-dynasty golden armor artifacts in China.

3. Restoration and research on Tang-dynasty tie-dyed fabrics

Focusing on Tang-dynasty tie-dyed fabrics unearthed in Dulan, this achievement confirms China's status as the primary birthplace of tie-dyeing, a world-renowned ancient textile technology. The carbon-14 dating verification shows the fabrics date no later than 750 AD, making them the earliest surviving tie-dyed artifacts globally.

4. New discoveries in 10,000-year dryland agriculture history

Centered on key sites of early dryland agriculture in the areas north and south of the Yanshan Mountains, the research integrates multidisciplinary methods including radiocarbon dating and carbon-nitrogen stable isotope analysis. It systematically summarizes three critical time nodes linking the development of dryland agriculture and early civilizations in northern China.

5. Earliest bayberry tree remains from Liangzhu culture

Through scientific techniques such as dendrochronology, archaeologists identified ancient tree remains unearthed at the Shibao site in Yuyao, Zhejiang Province as bayberry trees from the Liangzhu Culture period around 2520 BC. This marks the first identification of bayberry remains from the genus level to the species level in China, representing the earliest and most definitive bayberry tree discovery to date.

6. Digital archaeology reveals prehistoric water conservancy projects

Integrating cutting-edge information technologies such as satellite remote sensing, UAV aerial photography, and 3D site reconstruction, the research uncovers water management models of prehistoric settlements dating back 5,000 years, including those around Liangzhu Ancient City and in the Jianghan Plain. It reveals how ancient people mastered climate and hydrological characteristics to regulate water resources, responding to climate change and promoting the birth and development of prehistoric civilizations.

(Cover via VCG)