Quanzhou, July 7 (Zhongxin Net) -- "The combination of site protection and display and utilization is the work we have been doing for the past two years. Yi Shufeng, director of the Anxi County Museum in Quanzhou City, Fujian Province, said in an interview with reporters on the 25th that in the future, the Caopu iron smelting site under Anxi Qingyang will allow visitors to immerse themselves in the "legacy" of Quanzhou Song Yuan iron metallurgy.
On July 2021, 7, the project "Quanzhou: Song Yuan China's World Ocean Trade Center" was inscribed on the World Heritage List, becoming the 25th World Heritage Site in China. The project consists of 56 representative monuments and their associated environments and spaces, of which the Anxi Qingyang Xia Caopu Iron Smelting Site is one of them.
The picture shows the scene of ancient iron smelting reproduced in the Xiacaopu iron smelting site exhibition hall. Photo by Wu Guanbiao
On the second anniversary of the successful application of "Quanzhou: The World Ocean Trade Center of Song and Yuan China", the Caopu Iron Smelting Site under Qingyang welcomed a group of new guests. They came from Peking University, Fudan University, Yale University and other first-class universities, and explored the metallurgical handicraft industry in the Anxi Song and Yuan Dynasties through fieldwork, iron smelting experimental archaeology and other forms.
Since 2020, Anxi County has joined hands with the School of Archaeology and Museum of Peking University to build the Research Center of the School of Archaeology and Museum of Peking University (Anxi), so as to promote the protection and display of the Caopu smelting site in Qingyang, and create an innovative platform integrating archaeological excavation, fieldwork, summer classes, and talent training.
"For this year's metallurgical experimental archaeology summer course, we chose to be in Anxi." Fang Liyang, a doctoral student at the School of Archaeology and Museum of Peking University, is one of the members of the archaeological team that excavated the Caopu iron smelting site in Qingyang, and was responsible for guiding the students to iron smelting practice, "The Caopu iron smelting site in Qingyang is the first metallurgical world cultural heritage in China, where students can understand the technical connotation of small furnace iron smelting more immersively. ”
On July 7, the participants of the Metallurgical Experimental Archaeology Summer Course practiced iron smelting near the Xiacaopu iron smelting site. Photo by Wu Guanbiao
In fact, the study is only part of the protection and display of the Caopu iron smelting site in Qingyang. After the successful application, the site was approved by the provincial archaeological site park. At present, the site exhibition hall, protection shed, trail, boardwalk, observation deck and other supporting facilities are ready, and the management team is becoming more and more mature.
For Yu Zhuanglin, a docent of the Caopu Smelting Iron Site Exhibition Hall in Qingyang, serving visiting study groups, tourists and archaeological excavation teams every day makes him "full of achievement". "As an Anxi person, seeing that more and more people come to visit my hometown, and the history of my hometown is known by more people, even if it is worth the hard work."
The picture shows the Anxi Qingyang Xia Caopu Smelting Iron Site Exhibition Hall. Photo by Wu Guanbiao
"Next, we will also introduce a smart interpretation system, add sound, light, taste and other experiential elements to the visiting point, create a historical and cultural exhibition hall for local residents, improve the surrounding environment and traffic conditions of the site, effectively protect the site itself, and promote the development of local cultural tourism." Yi Shufeng said.
In addition to the protection and display and utilization of the site, the archaeological excavation of the Caopu smelting iron site in Qingyang is also continuing. According to Li Jiasheng, a doctoral student at the School of Archaeology and Museum of Peking University, the first four phases of the excavation of the site were fruitful, including the core smelting area, work area, water storage area and surrounding housing site remains, and a large number of smelting relics, coins, iron and porcelain pieces were unearthed.
The picture shows the archaeological site of the Caopu iron smelting site in Qingyang. Photo by Wu Guanbiao
"The fifth phase of the excavation work is now an extension of the excavation of the ruins of the surrounding housing site, aiming to further understand the spatial layout of the Caopu iron smelting site under Qingyang, the internal grade differences of the site, the living conditions of the workers at that time, and so on." Li Jiasheng said.
Li Jiasheng is particularly looking forward to the completion of the archaeological site park, "The archaeological site park can not only show the appearance of the site itself, but also allow visitors to experience archaeological work up close and experience the role of archaeological work in cultural inheritance and development." (End)