THREATS TO OUR NATIONAL TREASURES

J: journalist                       X: Prof Xu

J: People have always had interest in the past. Professor Xu, what are the most important dangers to our archaeological treasures?

X: They get damaged or lost. It's a matter of education. People fail to take the right steps when something is found. Fortunately, the government has helped spreading the basic knowledge among the population, telling what is to be done when an archaeological find is made.

J: What does that knowledge consist of?

X: Well, when something is found, construction work must be stopped and the police should be told about the find. That is to make sure that no further damage will be done.

J: Does it still happen that people do not report things they find?

X: Yes, indeed. They doubt whether it is necessary to do so. It sometimes happens that a find is not very valuable. They are afraid that they would make scientists come for nothing.

J: Are there other reasons why people don't report their finds?

X: Oh yes. People are afraid that archaeologists may take a real interest in the site and spend many weeks or months digging around at it. That would result in farmers missing the right opportunity to plant crops or construction work to be stopped for a long time. They don't realise that they should not weigh their own business interest against our national history.

J: If it is so important to dig things up and collect them, then why are archaeologists worried that other people dig up artefacts and give them to museums or add them to their own private archaeological collections?

X: Archaeology is a professional discipline. Years of training and experience are needed. It is not just about finding things and digging them up. The field work must be done very carefully. Of every find there needs to be a written record, to which a photograph must be added. The records must also state exactly what was found, where it was found and when. The outdoor work is followed by work in the lab, cleaning, restoring and identifying each artefact. Finally, when all is done, an analysis must be written and published in a magazine or a book.

J: Are there any other dangers, natural disasters perhaps?

X: Unfortunately there are treasure hunters: people who search for valuable objects, especially jewellery and gold. They are the worst. History does not need to fear nature very much. What has been buried has often been buried well. It is often human digging that causes the loss of valuable materials. It may seem a contradiction, but leaving things as they are would often be the best way of keeping things for the generations to come.