Hey amigos! 🌟 On January 14, 2026, researchers at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences in the Chinese mainland unveiled six epic archaeological achievements that are shaking up what we know about ancient civilizations.
From 10,000-year-old farming secrets to the earliest tie-dye clothes ever found, here’s what you need to know:
- 🦴 Massive Animal Specimen Bank: A dual repository of over 100,000 samples—ancient bone fossils and living animal specimens—will fuel research on how animals shaped Chinese civilization.
- 🔍 Smart Archaeology Model: The new “precision excavation + emergency protection + restoration research” approach helped restore rare Tang-dynasty artifacts like lacquered horse armor and the only surviving gilded bronze golden armor in the world.
- 🌈 Ancient Tie-Dye Fabric: Fabrics from Dulan, carbon-dated to before 750 AD, confirm Tang China as the birthplace of tie-dye, making them the oldest known examples globally.
- 🌾 10,000 Years of Dryland Farming: Multidisciplinary studies at sites north and south of the Yanshan Mountains map key stages in early agriculture and the rise of civilizations in northern China.
- 🌳 Oldest Bayberry Tree Remains: Dendrochronology identified bayberry wood from the Liangzhu Culture (circa 2520 BC) at Zhejiang’s Shibao site—the earliest species-level bayberry find in the Chinese mainland.
- 💧 Digital Archaeology Goes Big: Using satellite imagery, UAVs, and 3D reconstructions, researchers revealed 5,000-year-old water management systems around Liangzhu Ancient City and the Jianghan Plain, showing how ancient societies tamed their environment.
These breakthroughs are opening fresh pages in the story of human ingenuity. Stay tuned as these projects bring the past to life—and inspire the future! 🚀
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
