The 5th Congress of Chinese Archaeology opens in Yuncheng, Shanxi province, on Thursday. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

The 5th Congress of Chinese Archaeology opened in Yuncheng, Shanxi province, on Thursday, bringing together hundreds of scholars and professionals from China and abroad to discuss the discipline's past, present and future.

The three-day event is jointly organized by the Society for Chinese Archaeology, the Institute of Archaeology at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, Shanxi Provincial Cultural Heritage Administration and the city-level government of Yuncheng.

One of China's leading academic forums on archaeology, the congress has been held four times previously, with each edition focusing on a major frontier issue in the field. This year's theme is "The History and Future of Archaeology".

Participants are presenting their latest research findings and exchanging ideas on developments and emerging directions in archaeological studies.

In his opening speech, Chen Xingcan, chairman of the Society for Chinese Archaeology, said, "Archaeology is not only a discipline devoted to studying the past but also one that helps shape the future. Through understanding history, we can better walk toward the future," he said.

Chen said this year's congress offered an opportunity to reflect on the discipline's development and pay tribute to earlier generations of archaeologists. It also aimed to strengthen its foundations through contemporary practice and open new avenues for future research.

Participants listen to presentations at the event. [Photo by Zhu Xingxin/China Daily]

In 1926, Chinese archaeologists began excavations at the Xiyin site in Xiaxian county, Yuncheng. The work marked the first modern scientific archaeological excavation in China independently led by a Chinese scholar. To commemorate the centenary of the excavation, a seminar was also held during the congress.

Following the opening ceremony, six scholars delivered keynote speeches presenting recent archaeological discoveries from across China.

This year's congress features 28 professional committees and more than 570 presentations across 28 parallel sessions. The sessions cover different historical periods and areas of research, including underwater archaeology, environmental archaeology and archaeometry.

The program also includes 22 public lectures in Yuncheng, offering local residents an opportunity to engage with archaeological research and explore the country's rich historical record.