UCL Institute of Archaeology

The role of archaeology in public media in China

The term ‘public archaeology’ elicits various reactions from Chinese students, museum curators and archaeologists. As a new topic in China, the lack of both theoretic and empirical research in this field contributes some confusion and misunderstanding, or lack of understanding, of the subject. 

The aim of this research is to explore and interpret the evidence in the existing records of the ‘public’ involvement in archaeological activities in different historical periods and in various forms. 

The project aims to investigate the role of archaeology in public media and in international exhibitions, as well as the history of collecting Chinese archaeological material in the west (with comparison to that in China).

Another aspect of the project is to examine the different modes of representation of archaeology in Chinese site museums.  This has theoretical as well as practical implications. The future of the project will involve hand-on approach of experimenting with virtual museums and training Chinese museum professionals.  

Related outputs

Conference/Workshop organised:

• “Archaeology, Museums and International Exhibitions”, London, Nov. 2007.
• “Neolithic pottery of China Study Day”, London, Dec. 2007.
• “China Media Festival”, June 2008.
  

Papers presented at conferences:

•  “Archaeology in Chinese museums”, Beijing, Institute of Archaeology, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, August, 2010.
  

Forthcoming publications:

• “The workers’ and farmers’ archaeology of the Cultural Revolution”, in Sharing Archaeology, eds. Peter Stone and Zhao Hui
• “‘Public archaeology’ in China: a preliminary investigation”,  in New Perspectives in Global Public Archaeology, eds. Katsuyuki Okamura and Akira Matsuda

Funding

• Sino-British Fellowship Trust
• China Now
• The Museum of the First Emperor of Qin