Jilin University’s (JLU) archaeological team conducted a joint China-Russia excavation in Irkutsk, Russia, from July 9 to Aug 20, 2024.  

The excavation was based on the cooperation agreements signed in 2023 between JLU’s School of Archaeology, the Research Center for Chinese Frontier Archaeology, and Irkutsk State University – one of the most prestigious universities in Russia.

The JLU team included seven doctoral candidates and postgraduates. It was led by Professor WANG Lixin from the research center and QUAN Qiankun from the Department of Foreign Archaeology at the School of Archaeology.

From the initial site selection to excavating a 200-square-meter area, they worked closely with the Russian team, exchanging excavation methods and techniques.

Their precise understanding of relic phenomena helped them identify stratigraphic relations between relics and strata.

This provided new materials for further clarifying the relationships between various Neolithic cultures on the west side of Lake Baikal and offered insights into the population flow and technological diffusion in Northeast Asia in the early and mid-Neolithic period.

The joint archaeological excavation coincided with China and Russia’s Year of Cultural Exchange. It not only deepened the friendship between JLU and Irkutsk State University’s archaeological institutions, but also promoted comprehensive exchanges and cooperation in student training and scientific research.