The 2nd Shanghai Archaeology Forum was opened at the Baoshan Campus of Shanghai University on December 14, 2015. Themed the “archaeological exploration for cultural exchanges and diversity”, the forum is aimed to promote global exchanges in archaeology, publicize the latest findings of field archaeology and research results, expand the social influence of archaeology, advance the investigation, research, protection and utilization of archaeological resources and cultural relics across the world, and thus make archaeology better contribute to the development of the international community. Wang Weiguang, President of CASS, Yang Xiong, Mayor of Shanghai, and Liu Yuzhu, Director of the State Administration of Cultural Heritage, attended and addressed the opening ceremony.
At the opening ceremony, Li Peilin, Vice President of CASS and President of Shanghai Academy granted Cambridge professor, Lord Colin Renfrew, with the “Lifetime Achievement Award of the Shanghai Archaeology Forum”. The world’s major Archaeological Field-discovery Award (ten winning projects) and Major Archaeological Research Finding Award (11 winning projects) for 2013-2015 were also released at the forum. The tusi site in Southwest China was among projects under evaluation for the world’s major Archaeological Field-discovery Award.
During the forum, which lasts from December 14 to 17, several speeches themed “the world’s archaeology” and lectures about “public archaeology” will be organized at Shanghai University. More than 200 archaeological experts and scholars from renowned universities and research institutes across the world have been invited to the forum.
The Shanghai Archaeology Forum was first launched in 2013 and aimed to advance the investigation, research, protection and utilization of archaeological resources and cultural relics worldwide. As an international platform to publicize archaeological findings, promote archaeological research, and demonstrate the modern significance of cultural relics, the forum is dedicated to innovation and cooperation and focuses on the sustainable development of human society. The forum is held biennially, and appraises and releases major field archaeological discoveries and research findings throughout the world.