The Beiting Ancient City site a key hub along the ancient Silk Road in today's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region in Northwest China Photo: VCG
A total of 110 artifacts, including pottery and bronze items, unearthed from the Beiting Ancient City site, a key hub along the ancient Silk Road in today's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region in Northwest China, have been successfully restored, the Beiting Academy of Archaeological Studies announced on Monday.
Located approximately 12 kilometers northeast of downtown Jimsar county in Xinjiang, the Beiting Ancient City site's center spans 1.5 square kilometers. Seen as the cradle of civilization north of the Tianshan Mountains, Beiting witnessed the integration of Buddhist ideas, local cultures and historical policies from central China over 1,000 years ago.
The site was the administrative center north of the Tianshan Mountains from the Tang Dynasty (618-907) to the Yuan Dynasty (1279-1368) and a key political, economic, cultural, and military hub on the northern Silk Road. It witnessed the effective governance of the western regions by successive central authorities and the continuous exchanges and integration of various ethnic groups within China, according to the Xinjiang Daily.
Since the 1970s, generations of cultural heritage experts have explored and studied the site, gradually uncovering its historical significance.
In 2024, archaeologists completed the excavation of the No.2 site in the northeastern section of Beiting Ancient City's outer wall. The site, a large government complex, was in use for an extended period and underwent multiple renovations and expansions. Discoveries included a vast number of pottery shards, roof tiles, and animal bones, along with a smaller collection of stone tools and copper coins.
"Excavations at the Beiting Ancient City site have unearthed a variety of historical relics, including Tang Dynasty bronze official seals, inscribed pottery shards, and coins, further cementing its status as a strategic hub in ancient China," Liu Xiao, head of the artifact restoration department at the Beiting Academy of Archaeological Studies, told the Global Times on Monday.
"In 2021, we established a dedicated artifact restoration laboratory to enhance our preservation efforts. So far, we have successfully restored 110 artifacts from the Beiting Ancient City site, including pottery, coins, bone implements, and architectural components," Liu said, adding that many of these restored items bear unique regional and historical characteristics.
According to Liu, the restored artifacts will be showcased at the Site Museum of Beiting City, with select pieces featured on the "Digital Beiting" online platform, allowing broader public access to this cultural heritage.
Wang Yun, a specialist in artifact conservation at the site, emphasized the importance of adhering to strict restoration principles, including "minimal intervention," "maintaining the original integrity," and "using reversible materials."
To bring damaged artifacts back to life, the team employed a combination of traditional plaster and modern materials, applying methods like cleaning, reassembly, reinforcement and pattern reconstruction.
Wang cited an example that a large pile of pottery shards alone offers little insight, but once restored, they help scholars determine the site's historical period and function. The shape of an artifact can reveal whether it belonged to an official or a civilian, as each era had distinct styles.
"Moving forward, we will strengthen collaboration with universities and research institutions, introduce more specialists, and enhance the study and conservation of cultural heritage," Ma Jiao, director of the Jimsar County Cultural Relics Bureau and head of the Beiting Academy of Archaeological Studies, told the Global Times.
