In 2010, archaeological workers of Shaanxi Province achieved fruitful results in the third national survey of cultural relics, protection of large cultural relics and archaeological work in match with infrastructure construction. In this year, archaeological investigation, exploitation and digging work were conducted on 150 projects, with 1500 tombs of different dynasties found and 30,000 square meters of area dug. Over 12,000 pieces of cultural relics were uncovered, 110 archaeological briefings and essays were completed and two archaeological reports and works were published. Moreover, two projects won the honorable title of top 10 archaeological findings of China, and the archaeological project of Emperor Qin Shihuang's Mausoleum won the Prince of Asturias Awards from Spain.
In 2010, archaeological workers of our province carried out work focusing on large cultural relics protection work while doing a better job in two national key projects, i.e. the third national survey of cultural relics and investigation of resources of the Great Wall. On Aug. 3, 2010, Shaanxi Province passed the check and acceptance of the State Administration of Cultural Heritage on on-site investigation of our province in the third national survey of cultural relics.
In the meantime, the cultural relics specimen database established by our province in the third national survey of cultural relics also collected cultural relics specimen of 107 districts and counties in our province. With respect to large cultural relics protection, Shaanxi Province conducted archaeological exploitation and digging on Qinyongcheng Site, Qinzhidao Site, Emperor Qin Shihuang's Mausoleum, Imperial Mausoleum of Western Han, Imperial Mausoleum of Tang Dynasty and Tongwancheng Site.
By the end of last year, archaeological workers of our province completed the digging of Qinyongcheng Road and Drainage System and No. 12 Tomb of Emperor Qinshihuang. The archeological work of the Emperor Qin Shihuang's Mausoleum was carried out with a focus on construction of Emperor Qinshihuang's Mausoleum Site Park.
The distribution scope, contents and formation structure of underground building sites in northwest of Neicheng Wall (Construction Site of Emperor Qinshihuang's Mausoleum) were uncovered, providing scientific basis for construction of site parks and follow-up demonstration work.
Qinzhidao and Imperial Mausoleum of Western Han archaeological projects were included in the Top 10 National Archaeological Findings in 2009 released last year. In the archaeological work of the Imperial Mausoleum of Western Han, Shaanxi Province mainly carried out large-scaled archaeological investigation, exploitation and mapping on Tomb of Emperor Hui of Han Dynasty, Tomb of Emperor Yuan of Han Dynasty, Tomb of Emperor Gaozu of Han Dynasty and Tomb of Mrs.
Gouyi, and conducted archaeological finding on two pits outside the Tomb of Emperor Wu of Han Dynasty, providing reliable materials for protection of the Imperial Mausoleum of Western Han. Currently, the archeological investigation on Qinzhidao in Fuxian and Ganquan counties of Yangan has been completed.
The total investigation distance reached 150 kilometers, with six sites of buildings of Qin and Han dynasties, five tombs were found, 14 column-shaped sections were drawn and over 100 archaeological specimens were collected.
The Emperor Qin Shihuang's Mausoleum attracted great attentions due to theft. Archeological investigation of the mausoleum also got important findings. In order to protect the underground cultural relics of the mausoleum, many new underground cultural relics were found in addition to cultural relics already confirmed in 1980s. For instance, 60 ancient tomb sites were found in original four mausoleums. Of which, six building sites were found in No. 1 mausoleum, which was stolen. Outside the four mausoleums, there were also 30 ancient tomb sites found, which may be a new mausoleum of emperor.
Last year, archaeological work of our province played an active role in construction of key and important projects. Archaeological investigation and rescuing digging were conducted on construction areas of 130 projects including Xi an-Shangzhou Highway, Xi an and Tongchuan Highway. A lot of cultural relics such as huge house sites of Baishui River drainage in Yangshao era, donkey bone pit at Lantian New Street and earthquake relics and residential area of common people of Xia and Shang dynasties in Laoniupo, Xi an were found.