中国文明起源研究的回顾与思考

1928年发掘殷墟揭开了用考古资料探讨中国早期文明的序幕。但是探索中国文明起源主要是新中国成立以后展开的,可以划分三个阶段:早期阶段,20世纪50年代至70年代;研究的热潮阶段,20世纪80年代至90年代;新进展与新问题阶段,2000-2011年。学术界已经形成共识,开展文明起源研究的主力军只能是考古学,田野考古才是解决问题的关键。对国外考古学研究文明起源的成果缺乏深度了解也阻碍了中国文明起源研究的深入进行。目前已有学者自觉地认识到要主动开展多学科合作研究。探源工程,相对而言在专项研究上,容易得出新的认识,可是在宏观上做总结性的概括则有待不断地解读、探索。

A Review and Rethinking of the Research into the Origins of Chinese Civilization

While the exploration into the origins of early Chinese civilization using archaeological materials started in 1929 when the excavation of Yinxu was conducted,the major jobs were carried out after the establishment of the People’s Republic of China,which can be divided into three phases: Early period(1950s-1970s),booming period(1980s-1990s) and period of new advancement and new challenges(2000-2011).It has been commonly agreed in the academy that nothing but archaeology is the major force of this research and field archaeology is the key to the solution.Lack of knowledge about the research achievements in the foreign countries has held back the advancing of the research in China.Chinese researchers today have realized the importance of interdisciplinary studies.While new knowledge on some specific topics may be easier to get during the research process,to generalize from a macro perspective requires continuous studies.