Fifth Shanghai Archaeology Forum kicks off

The Fifth Shanghai Archaeology Forum kicked off at Shanghai University's Baoshan Campus on Friday.

Jointly hosted by the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences and the Shanghai Municipality, and organized by the Institute of Archaeology at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, Shanghai Municipal Administration of Cultural Heritage, Shanghai Academy and Shanghai University, the international forum will last from Dec 15-17.

"History is the best teacher," Gong Zheng, mayor of Shanghai, said at the opening of the forum. "We need to enhance communication between different civilizations and draw inspiration and nourishment from the evolution of human civilization."

At the opening Professor Yan Wenming of Peking University won the accolade of the Lifetime Achievement Award for his great contributions to the archaeological excavation and research.

Nine projects, including the new discoveries in China's Sanxingdui Site by the Institute of Cultural Heritage and Archaeology of Sichuan Province, were recognized as Important Field Archaeological Discoveries by the fifth Shanghai Archaeological Forum. Another 10 academic projects were awarded Important Achievements for Archaeological Research by the forum.

Since the first session in 2013, the biennial Shanghai Archaeological Forum has become an important platform of high-level academic exchanges for archaeologists all over the world, promoting the development of international archaeological studies and an important bond between archaeological studies of China and the rest of the world.