Routines of antiquity in focus

A one-meter layer of soil has been laid over the ruins that have completed excavation, while a thicker layer, from 3 to 3.5 meters, was mounted on the ancient wall ruins' outlines, delineating the ancient city's historical boundaries.

"We will continue to conduct the rest of the archaeology and research work following a systematic and targeted approach. Our goal is to integrate cultural heritage protection, archaeological research, exhibition, utilization and public access," Sun says.

In the museum, 289 sets of artifacts are displayed. The exhibits range from pottery vessels and ancient currencies, to jade ornaments and ritual objects.

"Different from all the exhibitions I worked on in the past, this one is unique in that it is centered on an archaeological site under excavation. This is a concept I wanted to incorporate into the exhibition design from the very beginning," says Li Guangyuan, designer with the Capital Museum in Beijing.

"All the things that can be viewed, the introductory videos, the artifact displays, or the exhibition spaces, will continue to undergo changes as the archaeological work progresses. The exhibition will continue to be enriched and perfected, while visitors watch."

Another feature of the exhibition, according to Li, is an extensive use of multimedia designs, including 16 interactive digital displays, some adopting extended reality technology.

Among the artifacts is a female skull unearthed from a Western Han Dynasty tomb complex that provides evidence to the earliest known trepanation (drilling a hole in the skull) in the Beijing region. On the skull, an oval-shaped opening is clearly visible, with traces of bone regeneration and healing. Based on the degree of healing, experts estimate that the patient survived for two months to several years after the surgery.