On the evening of July 12, Paris time, during the 47th session of the World Heritage Committee, a side event titled "The Protection, Inheritance, and Sustainable Development of Archaeological Heritage" was successfully held in Paris. The event was co-hosted by the National Cultural Heritage Administration of China and the People's Government of Sichuan Province, with joint organization by the Sichuan Provincial Cultural Heritage Administration, the Chinese National Committee for the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS), and the China Academy of Cultural Heritage. At the event, Huo Wei, Distinguished Professor of Sichuan University and Academic Dean of its School of Archaeology and Museology, presented vivid case studies of Sichuan's archaeological heritage conservation practices, taking the Sanxingdui and Jinsha sites as examples.

Sichuan, renowned as one of the pivotal cradles of Chinese civilization, harbors numerous archaeological sites spanning from the Paleolithic Age through various historical epochs. It boasts six major national large-scale archaeological sites: the Sanxingdui Site, the Jinsha Site, the Prehistoric City Sites on the Chengdu Plain, the Luojiaba Site, the Chengba Site, and the Shu Roads. Additionally, there are four national archaeological site parks located at Sanxingdui, Jinsha, Qiong Kilns, and Baodun. The Sanxingdui Site has also been successfully designated as a national demonstration zone for the protection and use of cultural heritage. To effectively protect and preserve these invaluable cultural heritage, Sichuan has pioneered distinctive approaches to archaeological conservation that reflect its regional characteristics.

"First, efforts have been made to systematically improve the archaeological site protection framework," Huo Wei explained. In recent years, Sichuan has focused on strengthening comprehensive conservation systems through policy instruments, including the Implementation Opinions on the Reform of Strengthening Cultural Relics Protection and Utilization and the Implementation Plan for the Protection and Inheritance Project of Ancient Shu Civilization. This series of documents provides robust policy support for archaeological site preservation.

Bolstered by these policy frameworks, Sichuan has fully harnessed the supporting and catalytic role of archaeology. Through scientific approaches, it has carried out systematic archaeological investigations at key sites, such as the Piluo Site, Mengxi River Site, Sanxingdui Site, Jinsha Site, Luojiaba Site, Chengba Site, and the Battleground Site of Jiangkou. Notably, "the new archaeological model at Sanxingdui marks a decisive shift from traditional extensive excavation methods. By constructing high-standard archaeological shelters and specialized excavation chambers, the project has achieved a comprehensive advancement in both research precision and on-site cultural relic preservation. Furthermore, its open, interdisciplinary approach has established a robust foundation for the protection and utilization of heritage sites."

The protection of archaeological sites has also been comprehensively strengthened. According to reports, Sichuan has adopted a dual approach that prioritizes both preventive conservation and emergency rescue measures, implementing systematic protection for heritage sites and their surrounding environments. At present, cultural relics protection plans and national archaeological site park blueprints have been completed for sites such as Sanxingdui, Jinsha, Baodun, Chengba, Luojiaba, and Qiong Kilns, establishing a basis for site stewardship and park development. Projects related to the protection and display, environmental improvement, and safety protection of these sites have effectively safeguarded the authenticity and integrity of the sites. Meanwhile, the overall environment of the sites has been significantly improved.

The presentation and utilization of these sites are continuously improving. Over a decade ago, the Chengdu Jinsha Site Museum not only exhibited unearthed cultural relics in a concentrated manner within the exhibition hall but also showed the excavation site of the sacrificial remains to the public in the ruins hall. Since the new wing of the Sanxingdui Museum opened in 2023, it has received nearly 10 million visitors. The Sanxingdui Museum has been actively innovating its display modes. It enables the synchronous presentation of archaeological excavations as well as cultural relics protection and restoration processes to the public. Visitors can observe the entire restoration process of newly unearthed cultural relics in real-time at the open-style cultural relics restoration hall. Moreover, cultural relic exhibitions from the Sanxingdui and Jinsha sites have been making their way overseas more frequently. These exhibitions have been held in over 100 cities across countries and regions, including the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Japan. They have attracted more than ten million visitors, creating a strong impact and generating a huge sensation wherever they were hosted.

"Sichuan has been committed to promoting the community-sharing and sustainable development of archaeological sites, emphasizing harmonious coexistence between site preservation and stakeholder engagement," introduced Huo Wei. The successful designation of the Sanxingdui Site as a national demonstration zone for the protection and use of cultural heritage, as well as the explorations and practices of building national archaeological site parks at Sanxingdui, Jinsha, Baodun, and Qiong Kilns, have significantly enhanced the enthusiasm, cultural identity, and sense of gain of the community in participating in heritage conservation and inheritance efforts. Leveraging traditional festivals like the Spring Festival and cultural heritage days such as the International Day for Monuments and Sites, Sichuan has organized diverse activities, including festive promotional campaigns and community lectures, which have profoundly benefited local residents. "The progress in building the national demonstration zone for the protection and use of cultural heritage and the national archaeological site parks has also catalyzed the implementation of supporting projects such as transportation networks and cultural-tourism facilities, stimulated local tourism industries, improved community living standards, and increased residents' incomes."

Expert Perspective

Rima Hooja, President of ICOMOS India: India has over 3,000 archaeologically significant sites documented by NGOs and institutions that currently lack comprehensive protection. The government is actively exploring mechanisms to extend conservation measures to these locations. India actively promotes community participation in archaeological preservation by encouraging farmers to report any discovered relics during agricultural work to the nearest museums. In Haryana, northern India, approximately 2,100 heritage sites have been documented through this approach.

Dmitry Voyakin, a member of the National Commission of the Republic of Kazakhstan for UNESCO: The cultural significance of heritage is not self-evident. Without active interpretation, even protected sites may remain invisible. Interpretation extends beyond public education; it is a communication process that fundamentally guides conservation decisions. For the first time, we have formally recognized that 'non-excavation' can itself constitute a deliberate, ethically responsible preservation strategy. The law has introduced the concept of "archaeological reserve zones", now integrated into urban planning frameworks and cultural heritage legislation.

Valerie Magar, Manager of Programmes Unit of the International Centre for the Study of the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property: In conservation practice, we prioritize locally available materials to ensure the sustainability of interventions. For instance, in conserving the stucco reliefs adorning pyramids nationwide, we developed an innovative mortar by blending tree bark extracts with lime, creating a material with different properties. This mortar is applied as a 'sacrificial layer' to protect fragile limestone surfaces, while replicating the original wall textures.