Cultural heritage experts and officials gathered in Beijing to discuss the integrated development of archaeology and museum studies at a seminar organized by the History Research of China, the Institute of Archaeology at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences and the Chinese Archaeological Museum on April 29 and 30.

The opening of an exhibition of dragon artifacts was also announced during the seminar, with the experts invited to visit.

Archaeology and museum studies are closely related disciplines that have continued to evolve in their respective fields, making significant contributions to the study and preservation of civilization, according to Chen Xingcan, director of the Institute of Archaeology at CASS.

"In the era of globalization and informatization, we are faced with unprecedented opportunities and challenges. How to promote the integrated development of archaeology and museum studies, and how to better serve society and benefit people have become important issues for us," says Chen.

Guo Dashun, a veteran archaeologist, recalls the history of promoting the integrated development of archaeology and museum studies in China.

He says that in 1984, noted archaeologist Su Bingqi (1909-97) proposed the establishment of archaeological experimental stations, places to store, organize and study artifacts and popularize knowledge of them among the public.

The station was a prototype for the combination of archaeological findings with museum displays.

According to Liu Chaoying, vice-chairperson of Chinese Museums Association, archaeology and museums have been interdependent for a long time.

She says that archaeology takes place behind the scenes, while museums take center stage. Archaeology is primarily concerned with the systematic study of archaeological sites, while museums play a more prominent role in the exhibition and dissemination of artifacts and knowledge gained from archaeological research.

The interdependence has produced archaeological museums in China, a new type of museum in the country often built by archaeological institutes to display their work and findings.