The Discovery of Zhao Jia Xu Yao of Our Institute Was Selected as An Excellent Case of National Infrastructure Archaeology
Recently, the Excellent Case of National Infrastructure Archaeology and Cultural Relics Protection edited by National Cultural Heritage Administration was officially published, and the project of Zhao Jia Xu Yao Site in Linzi undertaken by our institute was successfully selected.
I. Overview of the Project
The Zhao Jia Xu Yao Site was serendipitously discovered during the excavation of a Warring States to Han Dynasty cemetery, conducted in conjunction with the construction of the Heyuefu Project in Linzi District. Located in the heart of the Haidai region, the site lies in the eastern part of Linzi District, Zibo City, Shandong Province, within the transitional zone between the Taiyi Mountains of central Shandong and the alluvial plains of northern Shandong. Dating back 11,000 to 15,000 years, the site is characterized by extensive and frequent occurrences of baked clay remains, alongside multiple ancient human activity areas. This discovery represents a major breakthrough in understanding the transition from the Paleolithic to the Neolithic periods. It provides entirely new material for studying the origins of pottery and agriculture, offering critical evidence for comprehending this significant historical transformation. The site stands as an important testament to China's 10,000-year cultural development. In March 2023, the project was successfully selected as one of the "Top Ten Archaeological Discoveries of 2022" in China and was also included in the National Social Science Foundation's annual projects in the same year.
The geographical location of Zhao Jia Xu Yao Site
Early pottery unearthed from Zhao Jia Xu Yao Site
A large area of burned clay remains found in the Zhao Jia Xu Yao Site
II. The main measures
The Zhao Jia Xu Yao Site exemplifies a commitment to field archaeology standards, a strong research focus, and a highly responsible approach during infrastructure-related archaeological work. Guided by research-driven objectives, the project relied on meticulous field excavation, detailed information recording, and systematic sample collection as its foundation. Through multidisciplinary research, the team extracted diverse cultural remains, comprehensively interpreted archaeological materials, and provided in-depth insights into the site's significance. The project also emphasized public archaeology, effectively communicating archaeological narratives to the public. By establishing effective communication mechanisms, it encouraged the participation of multiple stakeholders. The design of cultural heritage protection plans was grounded in practical considerations, employing a variety of coordinated methods to actively promote the transformation and utilization of archaeological achievements.
(i) With a strong focus on interdisciplinary research, the team has uncovered significant archaeological findings through meticulous analysis of micro-level clues. Over 1,300 tombs dating from the Warring States to the Han Dynasty were identified within the project area. The burial depths of these tombs are notably substantial, primarily 4-8 meters below the modern surface, with some exceeding 10 meters. In the "undisturbed soil" profile of a tomb wall approximately 5 meters below the surface, thin layers of burned soil deposits were discovered. The burial depth of these deposits far exceeds that of the palaeosol layer associated with the Houli Culture. Recognizing the potential early chronology of these burned soil layers, the excavation director promptly initiated preliminary stratigraphic analysis and radiocarbon dating, which confirmed an age of approximately 11,000 years ago-placing them within the Paleolithic-Neolithic transition. Archaeological evidence from this transitional period is exceptionally rare in China, particularly in Shandong Province. The burned soil deposits represent a novel type of archaeological material, and scholarly interpretations of their origin and function remain subject to debate. Despite the absence of definitive evidence for human modification during extended excavations, the team maintained a rigorous, conservation-driven approach, overcoming external skepticism and internal challenges to achieve a groundbreaking academic breakthrough.
The staff of Zhao Jia Xu Yao Site cleaned up the remains of burned soil
(ii) Efforts are made to strengthen communication, from passive excavation to active research. First, the team reported the site excavation and research progress to the higher authorities in time. The leaders of National Cultural Heritage Administration and Shandong Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism visited the site for many times to give guidance, quickly and effectively coordinated all levels of units, and promoted the smooth development of excavation research and cultural relics protection. The support of leading departments at all levels is the solid support for the project to turn into "active" research. Secondly, we have established a multi-party consultation mechanism to encourage proactive engagement from the primary construction entity. We promptly communicated the historical and cultural significance of the site to local governments, cultural heritage authorities, and the construction entity, facilitating effective negotiations that fully respect the interests and concerns of all parties involved. Our institute has guided all relevant parties to actively participate in the project. The primary construction entity, taking the initiative to fulfill its social responsibilities, has provided financial and logistical support to expedite archaeological excavations and cultural heritage preservation efforts, including adjusting construction timelines, revising plans, avoiding significant archaeological remains, and implementing protective measures for cultural relics. Thirdly, we have strengthened academic exchange by regularly organizing expert review meetings and inviting both domestic and international specialists to conduct on-site discussions at the excavation site. These efforts have quickly garnered widespread attention and sparked discussions within both academic circles and the broader public. Additionally, we have actively invited project team members and experts from related fields to deliver specialized academic lectures, fostering deeper collaboration and communication among the teams involved.
Leaders from National Cultural Heritage Administration and the Provincial Cultural Tourism Department came to the site to guide and discuss with experts
(iii) Efforts are made to standardize excavation from fieldwork to academic frontiers. Guided by the principles of standardization, precision, and scientific rigor, the excavation plan was meticulously designed. Comprehensive and systematic scraping of the tomb walls across more than 1,000 burials within the project area was conducted to ensure no cultural remains were overlooked. Emphasis was placed on combining horizontal and vertical analyses, with a focus on stratigraphic dissection. Several east-west and north-south trenches, totaling over 350 meters in length, were excavated across the site to comprehensively understand the stratigraphic context and the distribution of baked clay remains. A large profile approximately 6 meters deep was exposed, and systematic dating was employed to preliminarily establish the chronological sequence of the site. The refined Paleolithic excavation methods were applied, involving detailed documentation of the three-dimensional information, burial conditions, and exposure patterns of unearthed artifacts, alongside high-precision 3D scanning and modeling of the entire site. Systematic sampling was conducted within 1 meter × 1 meter grids to ensure comprehensive, scientific, and systematic collection of site data. Simultaneous organization and study of unearthed artifacts and collected samples were carried out during the excavation process, with over 5,000 flotation samples processed in 2022 and a total soil volume exceeding 50,000 liters. In subsequent infrastructure-related archaeological work in the Linzi region, increased focus was placed on similar remains within the silt-clay interlayers, preliminarily confirming the distribution area of baked clay remains to span 2.5 square kilometers. Additionally, more human activity sites from the Warring States to Han Dynasty periods were identified at the Chenjiaxibei and Chenjiaxibei Northwest cemeteries. Active pursuit of academic research projects was undertaken, including the successful application for a 2023 National Social Science Fund project, with findings integrated into major research initiatives such as "Environmental Changes in Coastal Zones and the Succession of Cultures and Civilizations."
Elaborate field excavation and scientific sample collection were carried out in the human activity camp
(iv) Multidisciplinary participation and scientific interpretation of the site's significance have also been achieved. The excavation team established a multidisciplinary archaeological team focused on regional geomorphological evolution, climate change, landscape reconstruction around the site, and the burial environment of relics. This team includes top scientific research institutions such as the Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the Institute of Geology and Geophysics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the School of Archaeology and Museology at Peking University, the School of Archaeology at Shandong University, and the University of Science and Technology Beijing. Team development has been continuously improved in line with the progress of archaeological excavations and the advancement of the project. Each project team explored the human-environment interaction mechanisms during the transition from the Paleolithic to the Neolithic periods, centered on the Zhao Jia Xu Yao Site, from perspectives such as chronology, sedimentation, vegetation, and climate. The project leader urged the teams to promptly provide feedback on scientific research data and organized various internal seminars to evaluate and analyze the relevant data. Based on the results of data analysis and discussions, subsequent excavation work and research focuses were adjusted in a timely manner.
Multidisciplinary team members collected samples
(v) The team aims to be realistic and innovative, and creates a "home front" cultural space. Efforts are made to adopt the multi-dimensional and all-round design concept of "site protection+community museum+archaeological research space" to provide new ideas for cultural relics protection. The first is to set up permanent signs at the original site to protect some important relics on the spot. The second is to promote the construction of community museums and create a "home front" cultural space by displaying archaeological achievements. The third is to restore and display the scene in the public activity space of the current surface and community. The scheme of restoring and displaying is fully combined with the greening construction of residents' public space, so that "cultural relics" can be integrated into the community landscape. The construction of archaeological cultural space will increase the cultural atmosphere and historical details of the community and improve the quality of the community. The community museum, the "living room of the community", will also become a shining cultural business card of the community. In addition, more than 240 square meters of the main body of the human camp will be extracted by box, which will be displayed in Shandong Archaeological Museum. A variety of cultural relics protection measures are coordinated, effectively alleviating the contradiction between cultural relics protection and basic economic construction and promoting the development of local cultural undertakings.
Design blueprint of community museum-archaeological cultural space integrated into community landscape
Design blueprint of community museum of Zhao Jia Xu Yao Site
(vi) Telling Archaeological Stories: From Academic Research to Public Archaeology
First, we organized diverse public archaeology activities. These included creating specialized exhibition panels about the site, arranging thematic educational events for International Museum Day with student interns, and conducting archaeological science lectures in schools to engage primary and secondary students. Second, we promptly organized media campaigns to actively showcase new archaeological discoveries to the public, sparking widespread social interest. Finally, we visited the "Daily Renewal of Haidai Region: Shandong Historical and Cultural Exhibition" at the Shandong Museum, where the latest excavation findings and academic achievements were displayed in a timely manner. Through these archaeological accomplishments, we aim to extend the timeline of history and compose a new chapter of civilization.
Various public archaeological activities organized by Zhao Jia Xu Yao Archaeological Team
III Significance and enlightenment
The working concept and practice of the Zhao Jia Xu Yao Site are of great significance for future field excavation, academic research, discipline development, cultural heritage protection, public engagement through "archaeological storytelling", and cultural innovation and confidence.
(i) A keen academic awareness is the key to breakthroughs in infrastructure-related archaeology. Although archaeological projects tied to capital construction often face short timelines, heavy workloads, and high pressure, maintaining academic sensitivity and strengthening subject awareness can transform such projects into new academic growth points.
(ii) The project design led by the excavation team has achieved deep integration of multiple disciplines. The excavation team leader oversees the project design, establishes a multidisciplinary team, promotes the output of scientific research results, enhances internal communication and discussions within the team, and effectively bridges the gap between field archaeology and technological archaeology, realizing their deep integration.
(iii) Measures were taken to guide multi-party participation and promote "win-win" cooperation in the transformation of archaeological achievements, establish a timely and effective negotiation mechanism to ensure the reasonable concerns of all parties, and guide the local government, cultural relics departments and construction entities to participate in the whole process of cultural relics protection. The cultural relics protection model of "site protection+community museum+archaeological research space" explored by Zhao Jia Xu Yao Site not only meets the needs of infrastructure construction, but also promotes the development of local cultural undertakings on the premise of realizing the goal of cultural relics protection.
The excavation project at the Zhao Jia Xu Yao Site stands as a classic case of infrastructure-related archaeology yielding significant discoveries. During the excavation of Warring States to Han Dynasty tombs, the team serendipitously identified thin layers of baked clay within tomb wall profiles. Leveraging keen academic acumen, forward-thinking research vision, and a dedicated commitment to archaeological preservation, they persistently pursued and explored these findings, ultimately confirming remains from the Paleolithic-Neolithic transitional period and achieving groundbreaking archaeological results. Under the leadership of the excavation director, a research framework was designed, guiding a multidisciplinary team to realize the deep integration of field archaeology and technological archaeology. By establishing efficient mechanisms for reporting, communication, and consultation, the project actively engaged multiple stakeholders in translating archaeological achievements into broader benefits. This approach has achieved coordinated development among archaeological excavation, cultural heritage preservation, economic progress, and cultural initiatives, fostering multi-party win-win outcomes.
