Out with the old, in with the new

Known as one of the world's greatest archaeological findings of the 20th century, the Sanxingdui Ruins site was accidentally discovered by a farmer while digging a ditch in the 1920s. Large-scale excavations of the site began in 1986, when two pits — widely believed to be for sacrificial ceremonies — were accidentally discovered, making Sanxingdui famous around the world.

According to Xu, he is the third generation of Sanxingdui archaeologists. With the tremendous efforts of his generation and those before him, more and more relics have been brought to light. As the investigation work continues, the Sanxingdui site proves the existence of the ancient Shu civilization — a civilization dating back at least 4,800 years in Sichuan province.

"Now we can vividly feel how inclusive Chinese civilization was. It's not about the dominance of a single culture but about the common prosperity of different kinds of people," Xu said.

Moreover, some relics have shed light on the cultural exchanges between the ancient Shu civilization and other areas. "For example, the bronze figurine holding a zun vessel on top of its head combines distinctive regional characteristics and elements from the Yellow River civilization," Xu noted.

The findings help study a crucial question about the origins of Chinese civilization. When visiting the Chinese Academy of History in June, President Xi Jinping also emphasized the importance of archaeology in understanding the long history of Chinese civilization and appreciating the richness and profoundness of Chinese culture.

For Xu, President Xi's words have always served as an inspiration. Back in school as an archaeological student at Peking University, his reading of a letter Xi wrote to him and his fellow alumni made him even more determined to be an archaeologist.

"He showed huge support for what we were studying and encouraged us to dedicate our youth to where the country and people need us," Xu said.