RESPECTED TALENT
Working in Uzbekistan is a unique experience for Wang, who never had the chance to mingle with foreigners at home.
"I find Uzbekistan farmers are very, very polite and good mannered," Wang said. "They often hug each other. They greet me politely every day. That really impressed me."
Wang did not go to college and was a farmer until he learned his Luoyang shovel skills at the age of 27. His skills have been honed over years of excavation work.
In Uzbekistan, as he made important discoveries, he was seen as a talented person and became famous. The excavation site was open to local people and students. Once, a college student even asked for his signature.
"I never had that experience before. I did not know what to write. Finally, I wrote 'study hard,'" he said.
Wang has few hobbies, and in Uzbekistan he rarely went shopping, but he did buy one item to take home.
"It was a plate. It had beautiful patterns. The local culture is admirable," Wang said. "Now I serve fruits on the plate when guests come to my home."
MORE COOPERATION
"In 2011, Mingtepa was the first foreign project of China's state-level archaeology institute," said Wang Wei.
"Since China's reform and opening-up policy was adopted, archaeological teams from about a dozen countries have come to China for more than 70 collaborative projects. But this is the first time a state-level archaeology agency had gone abroad."
Five years on, the project showcases the strength of Chinese archaeology.
China now has several archaeological teams engaged in overseas joint projects, such as in Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Pakistan, Uzbekistan,Tajikistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Iran, Egypt, Kenya, and Honduras.
The CASS established a research center focusing on archaeology work abroad in March.
"China has advantages in archaeological work along the Silk Road," said Wang, director of the newly-established center.
"Chinese books have historical records on many countries on the route. Civilizations influenced each other along the road. Some antiques unearthed are very strange to European archaeologists, but Chinese experts recognize them easily," Wang said.
