In the 20th century, particularly since the founding of New China, the archeology in China has entered a prosperous and lively period. The archeological discoveries of China in 20th century, big and small, number tens of thousands.

In order to sum up and show the archeological achievements of China in 20th century, the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences organized an appraisal of 100 Items of Great Archeological Discoveries of China in 20th Century in the year of 2001. It is an appraisal of great archeological discoveries with the longest time span, the largest scale and highest level in our country. This appraisal refers to the important archeological discoveries during the period of 1901 to 2000, including the special administration areas of Hong Kong and Macao, and Taiwan. The following conditions are necessary for being selected: having important scientific values and significances, exerting important social influences both at home and abroad, and holding important places and roles in the Chinese history of archeology.

For ensuring righteousness, academic value and representativeness of the appraisal result, the appraisal activity combines appraisal by appraisal committee members with communication and appraisal by appraisal committee. The participants of this appraisal consist of 8 state-class historical relic archeological institutions, 28 historical relic archeological institutions from different provinces, municipalities, autonomous regions and the special administration area of Hong Kong, and the experts and scholars of archeological and museum departments from 11 authoritative universities in Beijing.

The appraisal lasted for three months and the result was announced in March 2001. The 100 items of the great archeological discoveries of China in 20th century selected in the appraisal all have great scientific values, have exerted rather important social influences both at home and abroad, and hold important places and roles in the Chinese history of archeology. The appraisal gives considerations to the discoveries of different regions, different times and different kinds. From the viewpoint of division in line with the age, there are 7 items from the Paleolithic Period, 30 items from the Neolithic Age, 23 items from the dynasties of Xia (2100~1600 BC), Shang (1600~1100 BC) and Zhou (1100~221 BC), 24 items from the dynasties of Qin (221~206 BC), Han (206 BC~220 AD), Wei (220~265), Jin (265~420), and Northern and Southern dynasties (420~581), and 16 items from the dynasties of Sui (581~618) and Tang (618~907) and the following dynasties.

Selected with higher votes for appraisal are the excavation of the ape-man site and the discoveries of the Peking Man (Sinanthropus pekinensis) and the Upper Cave Man (a type of primitive man living ten to twenty thousand years ago with their fossil remains found in 1933) at Zhoukoudian near Beijing; the excavation of the Banpo Village site (a Neolithic site of the Yangshao Culture) at the eastern outskirts of Xi'an, Shaan'xi Province; the discovery and excavation of the Eriltou Cultural site at the Erlitou Village near Yanshi, Henan Province; the excavation of the pit of sacrificial utensils left from the time equivalent to the later age of the Shang Dynasty (1600~1100 BC) at Sanxingdui near Guanghan, Sichuan Province; the survey and excavation of the Mausoleum of the First Emperor of the Qin Dynasty (221~206 BC) and the pit of terracotta warriors and horses at Lintong, Shan'xi Province; the survey and excavation of the Chang'an City site left from the Han Dynasty (206 BC~220 AD) at Xi'an, Shaanxi Province; the discovery and excavation of the Juyan site and the archives written on bamboo slips left from the Han Dynasty (206 BC~220 AD); the survey and excavation of the Yungang grottoes at Dadong, Shanxi Province; the survey of the Longmen grottoes at Luoyang, Henan; the discovery of the Dunhuang grottoes in Gansu Province; the survey and excavation of the Luoyang City left from the dynasties of Sui (581~618) and Tang (618~907) and the yamen (government office in feudal China) courtyard left from the Song Dynasty (960~1279); and the excavation of the Ding Mausoleum left from the Ming Dynasty (1368~1644) near Beijing.

It is of great significance to recall the process of the discoveries of the Chinese archeology in the last century at the time of entering the new century. It will help us to carry forward the long-standing history and brilliant culture of the nation of China, to increase our national self-esteem and sense of pride, and to promote the construction of the spiritual civilization of socialism. In addition, it will also enormously push forward a further development and prosperity of the Chinese archeology in the 21^st century.