China: Panlongcheng Excavation (IFR)

Location: Pan Long Cheng, Huangpi District, Wuhan, Hubei, China

Session Dates: June 22-July 26,2025

Application Deadline: February 1, 2025

Deadline Type: Rolling

Website: https://ifrglobal.org/program/china-panlongcheng/

Program Type:
Field School

RPA Certified:
No

Affiliation:
Institute for Field Research (IFR), Wuhan University, Panlongcheng Site Museum

Project Director:
Prof. Changping Zhang & Dr. Zhuo Sun

Project Description:

Step into the captivating world of Xia and Shang Dynasty-era China as you join the Panlongcheng Archaeological Field School. Situated in the verdant outskirts of central China’s bustling metropolis of Wuhan, Panlongcheng is a national cultural heritage park boasting a rich history dating back to the early Bronze Age. In this hands-on summer program, you’ll delve into the landscape, daily life, and social organization of this ancient urban settlement, the largest city of its time in the middle reaches of the Yangtze River. Through field excavations, lab work, and data analysis, you’ll contribute invaluable insights into the early Bronze Age civilization of the Yangtze River Valley while honing your skills as a researcher.

Field school highlights:

• Explore the cultural and historical significance of Panlongcheng through an initial week of site visits and museum tours
• Gain hands-on field archaeology experience and decipher the cultural connotations of artifacts unearthed.
• Expand your professional skill set and research capabilities through specialized research projects on pottery and stone tools, remote sensing archaeology, and zooarchaeology.

Period(s) of Occupation: Early Bronze Age

Project Size: 1-24 participants

Minimum Age: 18

Experience Required: None

Room and Board Arrangements:
During the period of the field school, students and staff will live at the Jinjiang Inn Select (hotel) near the Panlongcheng site. Students will be housed in double rooms with attached bathrooms. Food is provided Monday to Saturday (breakfast, lunch, and dinner). Breakfast for participants will be provided by the hotel in the hotel restaurant, while lunch and dinner will be provided by the cafeteria of the archaeological workstation at the Panlongcheng site. The daily diet in Wuhan is heavily based on rice, noodles, and vegetables. Specialized diets (vegan, kosher, etc.) are not very easy to maintain in this location. We will try to be as flexible as possible and offer some special diets, but you need to let us know in advance.

Academic Credit:
8 semester (12 quarter)