18 | Thursday, January 7, 2021 HONG KONG EDITION | CHINA DAILY LIFE Breaking new ground

The only all­female team of archaeologists in the west of China is unlocking mysteries of the past, while forging a path into the once male­dominated field for future generations of women to follow, Wang Kaihao reports in Chongqing.

he scorching summer of we have that.” Chongqing, a municipality They also employ other methods in Southwest China which to build friendships and trust. Wher­ is often nicknamed the ever they launch an excavation, they T“stove” for its high temperature, is often bring some old toys, books and definitely not a good time to spend clothes that they donate to the chil­ hours working outdoors. dren of poor families in local villages. However, for Yan Ni, 40, a female However, sometimes, the love archaeologist from Chongqing Cul­ toward their own children is not fully tural Heritage Research Institute, it expressed, especially if that love is her busiest time of the year. equates to being by their side. Many areas of the city are located Li Dadi, the director of the archae­ in the reservoir area of Three Gorges ology department at Chongqing Cul­ Dam, the water level of which lowers tural Heritage Research Institute, from 175 meters to 145 meters accompanied Ma Xiaojiao, a mem­ between June and August to accom­ ber of the women’s archaeological modate the flood season. For Yan team, in summer last year. and her teammates, it is the best Ma was on an excavation in time to harvest archaeological dis­ Chongqing’s Liangping district, coveries in the riparian zone, which which is her hometown. However, is usually hidden underwater, and for months she was unable to find she needs to make every minute time to visit her family due to the count. tight schedule of the dig. A brief “While working in the wild, sun­ opportunity arose when there was a shine and mosquitoes may be our meeting in the downtown area of the biggest enemies,” Yan, who looks district. younger than she is, recalls with a “I thought she deserved an oppor­ smile. “I’ll wear long sleeves to keep tunity to see her child and I asked her them off. It makes me even more to go back,” Li says. “When she was sweaty. But you see, I protect myself leaving to return to the site, the child quite well. wouldn’t let her go, holding her legs “In Chongqing, you have to wear and crying: ‘Mum, will you come sunscreens, at least SPF 50,” she says. back?’ In December, to accept our inter­ “I was barely able to hold back my view at the office of the research own tears, too,” Li says, his voice institute in downtown Chongqing, cracking with emotion. she hastily headed back from a “Women are given many roles — research field on the outskirts of the we’re expected to be good daughters, city. wives and mothers,” says Yan, the Perhaps, for her, it is like a pre­ mother of a 6­year­old boy. “But we cious rest. In the course of a year, she can also be equally excellent archae­ spends over 200 days working out­ ologists like men, which is some­ doors on archaeological sites. Sta­ times ignored in our society — like tioned in the countryside, she often women in the construction industry cannot go back home for several Women are given or geological exploration. We have months. every reason to spare no effort to Nevertheless, she feels luckier many roles — we’re ensure the projects are a success.” than many other archaeologists. Her expected to be good In August, when Zhong Fangrong, 11­person squad is composed of the girl with the fourth highest archaeologists, restorers of cultural daughters, wives and national college entrance examina­ relics, cartographers, and scientific mothers. But we can tion score in Hunan province, chose researchers working in the lab, and archaeology at Peking University as all of them are women. also be equally her major, it became a hot topic This is the only all­female archaeo­ excellent online as some people doubted her logical team in the west of China. By 2019, the team had independ­ choice. “You know, when women get archaeologists like ently taken on 12 excavation projects However, something that the pub­ together, they always have so many men.” and published more than 20 aca­ lic probably does not realize is that shared topics to chat about during demic papers, including five in core many of China’s biggest archaeologi­ their spare time,” Yan says, laughing. Yan Ni, archaeologist, journals. cal discoveries are credited to Chongqing Cultural Heritage “And we can take better care of each Research Institute In October, the team was females. The tomb of Fuhao, for other.” bestowed with the title of National instance, of a queen and wartime After earning her master’s degree March 8th Red­Banner Collective by heroine from the Shang Dynasty in archaeology from Jilin University assigned to independently host an the All­China Women’s Federation, (c.16th­11th century BC), was found in Changchun — one of China’s best excavation in Pingshang archaeolog­ which is one of the highest honors by Zheng Zhenxiang, veteran Chi­ higher education institutions for the ical site, Zhongxian county. for excellence that Chinese women nese archaeologist, in 1976. subject — in 2006, Yan chose to go Covering an area of 82,400 square can be awarded. And, six among 16 of Yan’s college back to her hometown in Chong­ kilometers, Chongqing is like a mini­ For Yan, leading the team has classmates are also women, and all qing. ature province. However, absence of opened the door to many new chal­ of them still hold positions in She is one of the first female prefecture­level government within lenges. archaeological studies. archaeologists to work at the insti­ the city means that almost all coun­ For example, one task is to recruit “When it comes to archaeology, tute, the operation of which was sep­ ty­level archaeological work has to local villagers as their assistants the general public tends to focus on arated from Chongqing Three be directly taken care of by her insti­ when digging the pits, as well as for the unearthing of brilliant cultural Gorges Museum that year. tution, which is on par with a provin­ other tasks. Though it seems a good relics, and often neglect the unsung, At that time, most female archaeo­ cial­level academy. way to benefit local community in behind­the­scenes heroes who have logical researchers in Chongqing “We were overwhelmed by many countryside by providing extra been stationed in the wild for years were regularly stationed in laborato­ follow­up archaeological projects From top: Members of the all­female archaeological team from income, Yan says winning trust takes and sacrificed a lot,” Bai says. “The ries, because leading excavations in related to the reservoir area,” Bai Jiu­ Chongqing Cultural Heritage Research Institute pose with local time. all­female team is their outstanding the field was considered to be the jiang, director of Chongqing Cultural rural residents, who offered help at an excavation site in Zhongxian “At first, many refused to believe representative. We need to salute to preserve of men due to the more Heritage Research Institute, recalls. county, Chongqing, in 2017; archaeologists of the all­female team that several women could be real them.” physically challenging nature of the “Many colleagues are stationed in work at an excavation site in Hechuan district of Chongqing in archaeologists,” Yan says. “Some peo­ Every night away from home, Yan work. the field for over 300 days a year,” he March; and Yan Ni takes photos of unearthed relics at the excava­ ple thought we were frauds.” still finds some time to video chat “But I had expertise and official explains, adding: “We have to send tion site in Hechuan. PHOTOS PROVIDED TO CHINA DAILY Compared with her male col­ with her husband through WeChat. license to lead excavation as well,” our female researchers to the front leagues, who can quickly make “Thanks to easy communication Yan says. “I don’t think there should line.” friends with villagers by proffering now, I can still follow and guide my be such a differentiation.” At Pingshang site, a tomb complex The archaeologists had to take “top six archaeological discoveries in cigarettes or taking a drink together, son’s growth, like helping with his Cooperating with her male col­ lasting from the Han Dynasty (206 boat to reach the site every day. Chongqing” of 2017. Due to their it is more difficult for Yan to get homework,” she says. “It’s a big task, leagues to unearth a myriad relics all BC­AD 220) to the Southern Dynasty “We lived in the homes of nearby remarkable achievement, this tem­ accustomed to that atmosphere. which needs me and my husband to over Chongqing throughout the next (420­589) was unearthed, offering villagers, and ran against the rising porarily­assembled team became an “But time is the best test,” Yan says work together.” decade, the highlight of Yan’s career key references in studies of crafts­ water of the Yangtze River,” Yan established crew. The all­female proudly. “Seeing our persistence and arrived in 2017, when she and four manship and burial customs during recalls. “It’s not easy, but it’s our job.” archaeological team was set up in hard work on the site, many people Contact the writer at other female archaeologists were that period. The finding was listed among the 2018. offer a hand. It needs patience, and [email protected]

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