[Work Progress] New Progress Made in Wuhan University's Service for Grassroots Cultural Heritage Protection and Utilization in Xinjiang

Recently, the Archaeological Institute for Yangtze Civilization, in collaboration with the People's Governments of Minfeng County, Hotan Prefecture, and Keping County, Aksu, Xinjiang, jointly held a symposium on the protection and utilization of the Niya Site and an exchange meeting on the utilization of cultural relics in Keping County. The Niya Site is located within the Taklamakan Desert, approximately 120 kilometers north of Minfeng County. It was the capital city of one of the Thirty-Six Kingdoms of the Western Regions during the Eastern Han, Wei and Jin Dynasties. More than 100 remains have been discovered at the Niya Site, including ancient city ruins, government offices, residential areas, and Buddhist temples. The Niya Site holds prominent and universal value as a Silk Road site for all of humanity and serves as an important witness to the formation of a unified multi-ethnic country and the cultural exchange between the East and the West. During the symposium, experts provided suggestions and recommendations regarding the protection of the site, its display and utilization, and the promotion of its cultural heritage. Based on the expert advice received, our team will continue to undertake archaeological investigations and work on the protection and utilization of the site.

In April 2022, the Archaeological Institute for Yangtze Civilization, in collaboration with the People's Government of Keping County, established the "Wuhan University Cultural Heritage Protection and Utilization Keping Base." Associate Professor Song Haichao from the Archaeological Institute for Yangtze Civilization led a team to conduct a survey and assessment of cultural relics within the county. The team utilized methods such as field surveys, remote sensing mapping, C14 dating, animal archaeology, and plant archaeology to conduct a systematic investigation of over 50 cultural preservation units within the county. They also provided recommendations for the subsequent protection and utilization of these sites.