Page 38 - The Golden Age of Chinese Archaeology: Celebrated Discoveries from the People’s Republic of China
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Bronze canister  with
     gilt bronze  rider; height
          5
     50  (19 A); Western  Han
     dynasty; excavated in  1956
     from  Tomb 10, Shizhaishan,
     Jinning, Yunnan  province
     (left).


     Silk banner; length  c. 212
     (83 '/2);  Han  dynasty; exca-
     vated  in  1972 from  Tomb i,
     Mawangdui,  Changsha,
     Hunan province  (right).




























                            been  discovered  accidentally  in some localities, regional  authorities  were given the  responsibil-
                            ity for reporting  and  collecting discoveries and  archaeological  materials found by farmers, con-
                            struction  workers, and  surveyors. They also participated  in excavations, although  the  more
                            important field excavations were directed  by the  Beijing-based institutions.  Over  several
                            decades,  the  network for administration has evolved, and  now also provides locations  for  the
                            study, preservation, and  display of cultural  properties.
                                 In  1950,  the  State  Council  issued  provisional statutory  measures prohibiting  the  unautho-

                            rized excavation and  export  of precious  cultural  relics, including works of art  and  rare  books.  In
                            1953,  the  Council further required  that all ancient  tombs  and  sites  discovered  during  construc-
                            tion  be excavated  by teams operating  under  the  authority  of the  State Bureau of Cultural  Relics
                                                              70
                            and  the  Chinese Academy of Sciences.  As a result  of effective  and  strict enforcement,  smug-
                            gling and  the  illegal export  of artifacts almost  ceased  between  the  19508 and  early 19708.
                            Archaeologists were able to work without  fear  of interference  by intruders  or  plunderers.
                                 Cultural  relics, especially those already above ground  and those in private  collections,
                            were hardly exempt  from  politics, though. Many works of art  were lost, particularly during  the



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