#China #Wenzhou #Maritime Silk Road #Shuomen Port

Conference on the Ancient Shuomen Port in Wenzhou

A recent conference dedicated to the latest findings from the ancient Shuomen port site took place in Wenzhou, a coastal city in eastern China. This event aimed to rekindle interest in the rich cultural legacy of the Maritime Silk Road. Organized under the auspices of the Chinese Academy of Cultural Heritage, the National Centre for Archaeology, and the Zhejiang Provincial Authority for Cultural Heritage, the conference attracted numerous experts from Chinese museums, as well as scholars associated with the "Alliance of Cities for the Preservation of Maritime Silk Road Heritage".

The conference also marked the inauguration of the Shuomen Ancient Port Institute in Wenzhou. In a significant move toward enhancing the local cultural heritage protection, the Wenzhou Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology was authorized to adopt the same name. This is a substantial step in safeguarding the region’s historical and archaeological legacy related to the Maritime Silk Road.

Liang Yanhua, head of the Wenzhou Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology, shared the latest discoveries made over the past few years at the Shuomen port site. Attendees were given insightful glimpses into the various relics and artifacts recovered from this historically significant site. The excavations conducted this year are largely completed, uncovering original coastal remnants dating from the Five Dynasties through to the early Song Dynasty. These findings have been critical in filling significant gaps in understanding the chronological framework related to the Shuomen port.

Particularly noteworthy were discoveries on the eastern side of the Shuomen fortress, where boundaries of the roads and residential areas from the Southern Song Dynasty through to the Ming and Qing Dynasties were distinctly outlined, illustrating the spatial integration between the port and the city.

After two years of work, excavation teams have completed extensive clearance around shipwreck No. 2. The research revealed key differences between this ship and those built in Fujian province, while also highlighting similarities with Shipwreck No. 1, which suggests that the site may indeed have housed a shipyard in the ancient city of Wenzhou.

Overall, these archaeological and academic findings provide tangible evidence of Wenzhou’s renewed role in promoting the heritage of the Maritime Silk Road. They contribute significantly to the understanding and protection of local cultural heritage and the wider context of Chinese civilization. The discoveries not only underscore Wenzhou’s historical importance but also its potential in the ongoing discourse about cultural heritage management and archaeological research within the Silk Road narrative.

As Wenzhou strives for the nomination of the Shuomen port site as a UNESCO World Heritage site, the conference served as a pivotal moment not only for local stakeholders but for those involved in heritage conservation globally. The commitment to unearthing and preserving the past remains a critical focus for the future development of Wenzhou and its historical identity in the broader landscape of the Maritime Silk Road.

This conference and its implications extend beyond Wenzhou, potentially influencing similar efforts in maritime cultural heritage preservation around the world, linking past practices with present and future challenges in conservation and education.