Hot on the Web
Public casts doubt on archeologists
(China Daily)
Updated: 2010-01-19 07:52
 |
Large Medium Small |
The news of the discovery of Cao Cao's tomb has sparked a public debate, with many archeologists and other people talking about how reliable the finds are. In fact, what the public wants to know is more than the simple truth, says an article in Beijing Evening News. Excerpts:
The discovery of Cao Cao's tomb is not only of academic interest. That's why it has sparked a debate among the public and the media. And some people doubt the authenticity of the finds even after several experts have confirmed them.
Cao Cao (AD155-220) was a warlord and penultimate chancellor of the Eastern Han Dynasty (AD 25-220). And the public is concerned about more than the simple truth because we have held famous experts' viewpoints as sacred for too long, which they have violated by their repeated lies. A lot of experts have compromised their academic conscience for power and profit. So when the public doubts the authenticity of Cao Cao's tomb, it is casting a doubt on the reliability of these experts.
Many a cultural site has been turned into a commercial center, with the sole purpose of earning profit for the local administration. The hurried confirmation in the case of Cao Cao does not seem an exception.
A large number of anecdotes and movies on tomb digging indicates the public's thirst for knowing the facts about legendary and historical heroes.
In other words, such things are no longer confined to the academia.
(China Daily 01/19/2010 page9)
