China-Kenya Paleolithic Archaeological Project Symposium Held in Zhengzhou

On July 24, the China-Kenya Paleolithic Archaeological Project Symposium was successfully held in Zhengzhou City of Henan Province. This event was guided by the Culture and Tourism Department of Henan Province, the Henan Provincial Administration of Cultural Heritage, and the Paleolithic Professional Committee of the Archaeological Society of China, and hosted by the Henan Provincial Institute of Cultural Heritage and Archaeology.

Mary Gikungu, Director-General of the National Museums of Kenya, and Ren Wei, Secretary of the CPC Party Leadership Group and Director-General of Henan Provincial Administration of Cultural Heritage, delivered speeches at the opening ceremony of the Symposium, and Gao Xing, Honorary President of the Asian Paleolithic Association and Research Fellow at the Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology, Chinese Academy of Sciences made a keynote speech. The opening ceremony was hosted by Li Qin, Executive Director of Henan Provincial Institute of Cultural Heritage and Archaeology. Over 40 Chinese and foreign experts and scholars from more than 20 research institutions, including National Museums of Kenya, Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology, Peking University, Jilin University, Shandong University, Wuhan University, Zhengzhou University, Liaoning University, Hubei University, East China Normal University, Chongqing Normal University, Jiangsu Normal University, Hebei Provincial Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology, Shandong Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology, Shanxi Provincial Institute of Archaeology, Hubei Provincial Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology, Luoyang Municipal Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology of Henan Province, and Daqing Museum of Heilongjiang Province, gathered together to engage in in-depth exchanges and discussions on the China-Kenya Paleolithic Archaeological Project.

I. Opening Ceremony of the Symposium

Li Qin, Executive Director of Henan Provincial Institute of Cultural Heritage and Archaeology, hosts the opening ceremony of the Symposium

Li Qin, the moderator of the opening ceremony of the Symposium, warmly welcomed the attending leaders and experts, and emphasized that the China-Kenya Paleolithic Archaeological Project was an important part of the “Belt and Road” cultural exchange and cooperation. The main purpose of the symposium, as she explained, was to highlight the joint archaeological achievements, deepen cultural exchanges between China and Kenya, and promote mutual learning of civilizations between the two countries.

Ren Wei, Secretary of the CPC Party Leadership Group and Director-General of the Cultural Heritage Administration of Henan Province, delivers a welcome speech at the opening ceremony of the Symposium

In his opening speech, Ren Wei, Secretary of the CPC Party Leadership Group and Director-General of the Cultural Heritage Administration of Henan Province, began with the rich historical heritage of Henan Province, affirmed the hard work and deep friendship of Chinese-Kenyan joint archaeological team, and congratulated the joint excavation of the Lake Bogoria Site in the Republic of Kenya for being selected as the “Chinese Academy of Social Sciences archaeological discoveries abroad in 2023”. Finally, Ren also warmly invited the four leaders and specialists of the National Museums of Kenya to visit the China National Archaeological Site Park in Henan Province to fully experience the local cultural charm.

Mary Gikungu, Director-General of the National Museums of Kenya, delivers a speech at the opening ceremony of the Symposium

In her speech, Mary Gikungu said that the Symposium was a milestone for the China-Kenya Paleolithic Archaeological Project as this involves multi-institutional cooperation in the exploration of the past and future of human beings, and reveals the long-standing history and evolution of human civilization in Baringo Basin of Kenya. The Kenyan government sees China as an important partner, and the National Museums of Kenya will continue to commit itself to the exchanges and cooperation with China, with the goal of jointly protecting and promoting the sustainable development of cultural relics, which aims to expand the scope of cooperation between China and Kenya from the current archaeological excavation and research to such aspects as the cultural relics protection, museum exhibitions, education and training.

Gao Xing, Research Fellow at the Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology, China Academy of Social Sciences, makes a keynote speech at the opening ceremony of the Symposium

In his keynote speech, Gao Xing reviewed the history of exchange and cooperation between China and Africa in the field of Paleoanthropology-Paleolithic archaeology, and proposed some major topics that deserve in-depth cooperation and research between China and Africa in the future, such as the human origin and the early human dispersals, the origin and dispersal of early modern humans, the origin and development of culture, the human adaptation and cultural diversity. Moreover, he pointed out the direction and areas of future archaeological exchanges and cooperation between China and Africa, such as the top-down design, field archaeology, scientific and technological analysis, talent training and academic forums.

Signing Ceremony of the China-Kenya Paleolithic Archaeological Project Letter of Intent Cooperation (2024-2029)

(Left: Zhang Huiming, Deputy Director-General of Henan Provincial Administration of Cultural Heritage  Right: Mary Gikungu, Director-General of the National Museums of Kenya)

The signing ceremony of the China-Kenya Paleolithic Archaeological Project Letter of Intent Cooperation (2024-2029) was a significant event in the Agenda of the Symposium, during which Zhang Huiming, Deputy Director-General of Henan Provincial Administration of Cultural Heritage, and Mary Gikungu, Director-General of the National Museums of Kenya signed the Letter of Intent Cooperation on behalf of the Chinese and Kenyan sides respectively, which has clearly outlined the direction of cooperation and exchange between both parties for the next five years.

The Symposium Site

II. Work Reports Session

Li Yongqiang, Director of the Luoyang Municipal Cultural Relics and Archaeology Research Institute, hosts the work report session of the Symposium

The Symposium arranged 2 work reports and 10 academic presentations. The work report session on the morning was hosted by Li Yongqiang, Director of the Luoyang Municipal Cultural Relics and Archaeology Research Institute, while the academic presentations session on the afternoon was chaired respectively by Professor Zhao Hailong from Liaoning University and the Deputy Secretary-General of the Paleolithic Professional Committee of the Archaeological Society of China, and Professor Chen Wei from Hubei University, summarized and commented by Professor Wang Youping from Peking University, and Professor Chen Quanjia from Jilin University, two authoritative experts in the capacity of Academic Advisor of the Paleolithic Professional Committee of the Archaeological Society of China. The topics discussed in the Symposium were extensive but diverse, covering historical connections between China and Kenya as well as their latest research findings in the field of Paleolithic archaeology, and highlighted the long-standing history and flourishing future of cultural exchanges between the two countries.

Wei Xingtao, Deputy Director of Henan Provincial Institute of Cultural Heritage and Archaeology, makes the Work Report in the Symposium

Wei Xingtao, Research Fellow and Deputy Director of Henan Provincial Institute of Cultural Heritage and Archaeology, and the Chinese Leader of the China-Kenya Paleolithic Archaeological Project pointed out in the Work Report that China and Kenya took the Belt and Road Initiative as an opportunity to actively carry out the Joint Archaeological Projects and ensure the continuity of the archaeological work, which not only advanced the outreach of Chinese archaeology and fostered the cultivation of archaeological talent, but also signified the entry of cultural exchange between China and Kenya into a new era.

Teta Tettrell, Director of the National Resources Research Division of the National Museums of Kenya, makes the Work Report in the Symposium

Teta Terrell, Director of the Department of National Resources Research at the National Museums of Kenya, stressed in the Work Report that the National Museums of Kenya played an important role in both natural and cultural researches, and noted that cultural heritage and underwater cultural heritage could be two potential areas for international collaboration. In terms of cultural heritage, Kenya boasts a rich history and diverse cultures, and hopes to further protect and promote cultural heritage through cooperation with international partners. On the underwater cultural heritage, Kenya possesses abundant marine resources and a deep maritime cultural history, and we hope to strengthen the protection and research of underwater cultural heritage through cooperation with international partners. The Kenyan side looks forward to cooperating with China in these areas to jointly promote the protection and research of cultural heritage and underwater cultural heritage.

III. Academic Discussion Session of the Symposium

First half of the Academic Discussion Session

Professor Zhao Hailong from Liaoning University hosts the first-half of the Academic Discussion Session of the Symposium

Academic Presentation 1

Zhao Qingpo, On-site Head of the China-Kenya Paleolithic Archaeological Project, makes his academic presentation in the Symposium

Zhao Qingpo, Deputy Director of the Prehistory Research Office of Henan Provincial Institute of Cultural Heritage and Archaeology and On-site Head of the China-Kenya Paleolithic Archaeological Project, introduced the new archaeological discoveries in 2023 at the Lake Bogoria Site in Kenya, which provided new materials and perspectives for studying the origin of modern humans and the origin and spread of Levallois technique.

Academic Presentation 2

Job Kibii, Head of the China-Kenya Paleolithic Archaeological Project, makes his academic presentation in the Symposium

Job Kibii, Senior Researcher of the National Museums of Kenya and the Kenyan Leader of the China-Kenya Paleolithic Archaeological Project, expressed that exploring human origins was a crucial mission of the paleoanthropologists and Paleolithic archaeologists worldwide. In his view, Africa’s human development history currently presents a relatively complete sequence, but it remains some shortcomings in fossil and lithic research techniques. The prospect of the China-Kenya Paleolithic Archaeological Project is bright, and in the future, he hopes to cooperate more closely with the Chinese side, forming a multidisciplinary team of experts to carry out joint archaeological works in the field and laboratory simultaneously.

Academic Presentation 3

Li Feng, Research Fellow of Peking University, makes his academic presentation in the Symposium

Li Feng, Research Fellow of Peking University, who is also Deputy Director of the Paleolithic Professional Committee of the Archaeological Society of China, shed new light on the process of early modern humans dispersing into East Asia along the northern route about 50,000 to 40,000 years ago, as well as their complex interactions with archaic populations, through archaeological evidence, which has provided a new perspective for understanding the migration paths of modern humans and human interactions on the Eurasian steppes.

Academic Presentation 4

Professor Li Yinghua from Wuhan University makes her academic presentation in the Symposium

Professor Li Yinghua from Wuhan University, who is also Deputy Secretary-General of the Paleolithic Professional Committee of the Archaeological Society of China, argued that starting from the perspective of technological cognition and technological logic, meticulously deconstructing stone tools and examining their relationships with users and objects, and analyzing the scale of development of stone tool industries, can provide a new perspective for understanding the relationships among ancient populations, technology, and culture.

Academic Presentation 5

Associate Professor Lin Yi from Zhengzhou University makes his academic presentation in the Symposium

Associate Professor Lin Yi from Zhengzhou University summarized the characteristics of raw material composition at MIS3 stage sites in the eastern foothills of Songshan Mountain and the differences in the cost-distance of raw material exploitation among various sites within the region. He pointed out that people at the time adopted different raw material procurement strategies to cope with the uneven spatial distribution of resources, which reflected the adaptability of populations to the environment and the diversity of their utilization strategies.

Academic Presentation 6

Christine Ogola, Head of the Archaeology at the Earth Sciences Department of the National Museums of Kenya, makes her academic presentation in the Symposium

In her presentation, Christine Ogola showcased the cultural relics from the Lomekwi Culture to the Iron Age (1200 BC-600 BC), which are documented, preserved, and protected by the National Museums of Kenya, demonstrating the continuous development of human civilization.

Professor Wang Youping from Peking University summarized and commented the first half of the Academic Discussion Session of the Symposium

Second half of the Academic Discussion Session

Professor Chen Wei from Hubei University hosts the second half of the Academic Discussion Session of the Symposium

Academic Presentation 7

Associate Professor Nian Xiaomei from East China Normal University makes her academic presentation in the Symposium 

Associate Professor Nian Xiaomei from East China Normal University introduced the basic principles of optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) dating technology and provided a detailed account of its application at the Xuchang (People) Site in Henan Province and the Ruzhou Wenquan Paleolithic Site in Henan Province.

Academic Presentation 8

Wang Fagang, Research Fellow at Hebei Provincial Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology makes his academic presentation in the Symposium

Wang Fagang, Research Fellow at Hebei Provincial Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology stated that, a century of scientific exploration in the Nihewan Basin has become important evidence for substantiating the concept of “a million years of human history, ten thousand years of cultural history and five thousand years of civilization history.” Through domestic and international cooperation and the application of modern science and technology, the Nihewan Site has yielded abundant achievements. The protection and utilization of the sites have made positive contributions to local economic development and the improvement of people’s livelihoods.

Academic Presentation 9

Li Gang, Research Fellow at the Shandong Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology makes his academic presentation in the Symposium

Li Gang, Research Fellow and Director of the Science and Technology Archaeology Center, Shandong Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology, reported the latest archaeological discoveries at the Bashan Site Complex. According to him, the stratigraphy of the Bashan Site Complex shows the history of continuous development from 100,000 to 20,000 years ago, fully illustrates the historical process of ancient human development over time and space, and provides important evidence for establishing the continuous evolution and development of early humans and culture in East Asia.

Academic Presentation 10

Lu Chengqiu, Research Fellow at Hubei Provincial Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology makes his academic presentation in the Symposium

Lu Chengqiu, Research Fellow at Hubei Provincial Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology elaborated the recent archaeological excavation focusing on the Xuetang Liangzi Paleolithic Site in Yunyang District of Shiyan City, Hubei Province. In his view, the cultural remains unearthed from different landforms and altitudes at the site are of great value and significance for reconstructing the million-year evolutionary history of ancient human in this region and the developmental sequence of Paleolithic culture.

Professor Chen Quanjia from Jilin University summarized and commented the second half of the Academic Discussion Session of the Symposium

IV. Closing Ceremony of the Symposium

Wei Xingtao, Deputy Director of Henan Provincial Institute of Cultural Heritage and Archaeology hosts the closing ceremony of the Symposium

Meng Yang, Director of the Office of Cultural Relics Technology and International Cooperation and Exchange of the Henan Provincial Administration of Cultural Heritage, makes a remark at the closing ceremony of the Symposium.

The closing ceremony of the China-Kenya Paleolithic Archaeological Project Symposium was presided over by Wei Xingtao, Deputy Director of Henan Provincial Institute of Cultural Heritage and Archaeology. At the closing ceremony, Meng Yang, Director of the Office of Cultural Relics Technology and International Cooperation and Exchange of Henan Provincial Administration of Cultural Heritage, reviewed the close cooperation and significant achievements between China and Kenya in the field of Paleolithic archaeology over the past four years, and emphasized the importance of cooperation between different cultures and the challenges faced, including technological exploration, the construction of cooperation mechanisms, and the enhancement of public awareness.

Liu Haiwang, Secretary of the CPC Party Committee of Henan Provincial Institute of Cultural Heritage and Archaeology delivers his summary address at the closing ceremony of the Symposium

Liu Haiwang, Secretary of the CPC Party Committee of Henan Provincial Institute of Cultural Heritage and Archaeology, delivered his summary address at the closing ceremony of the Symposium. He expressed the gratitude to the National Museums of Kenya and the Henan Provincial Administration of Cultural Heritage for their support, praised the efforts of the Chinese-Kenyan archaeological team and the cooperation between the two sides in the field of Paleolithic archaeology, and looked forward to more exchange and cooperation opportunities in the future to jointly promote the studies of the origin of modern humans.

Group Photo of the Participants of the China-Kenya Paleolithic Archaeological Project Symposium

The China-Kenya Paleolithic Archaeological Project Symposium has greatly enriched people’s understanding of the historical and cultural heritage of both two countries, enhanced the international influence of archaeology of Henan Province, steadily advanced the pace of “Go Globally” strategy in Chinese archaeology, which also played an active role in interpreting the exchange and mutual learning between different civilizations in order to serve the Belt and Road Initiative.