Tragedy in the Three Gorges
Cradles of Civilization
Since the beginning of time, river valleys have been the cradles of civilization around the world. Consider, if you will, the cultures that evolved on the banks of the Nile in Egypt, the Tigris and Euphrates in Iraq, the Ganges in India, and the Yellow and Yangtze Rivers in China.
For this reason, many archaeologists concentrate their search for remnants of ancient civilizations around the world's mightiest rivers. In China, this process got off to a slow start. Modern archaeology did not find its way into China until the 1940's and 50's and some of the scientific methods in use elsewhere are still not practiced there today.
However, considerable research led archaeologists and historians to conclude that the area surrounding the Yellow River had been the birthplace of Chinese civilization. Today, archaeologists excavating at sites in the Yangtze River valley and the area known as the Three Gorges believe they have found a "southern cradle of Chinese civilization", according to Dr. Elizabeth Childs-Johnson, an Associate Research Scholar in the East Asian Studies program at NYU and expert on archaeology in the Three Gorges region.
Building the Dam
Unfortunately, man's quest to dominate nature now threatens the effort to uncover the archaeological treasures of the Wu, Qutang and Xiling or Three Gorges.
"As is well-known, the Three Gorges Dam being built on the middle reaches of China's Yangzi River is the largest and most expensive hydroelectric project ever undertaken in the world," stated Childs-Johnson in a presentation to the World Commission on Dams, titled "The Three Gorges Project: There Is No Dragon".
The Yangtze is the world's third mightiest river in terms of length and water flow. A dam to harness its unstoppable energy was first proposed in the 1920's, but no action was taken until April of 1992, when the National People's Congress approved construction of the Three Gorges Dam.
Theoretically, once the dam is completed in 2009, it will be capable of producing over 18,000 megawatts of electricity, significantly more than any of its smaller peers around the world. The dam will rise a whopping 600 feet above the existing river bed and it will span a distance of approximately 1.2 miles between the banks of the Yangtze. Supporters of the dam also hope to exercise some measure of control over the Yangtze's killer floods and make the river more navigable for ships over 10,000 tons. This project will eventually enable these large ships to travel as far as 1,500 miles inland to Chongqing to trade at new ports and new markets in the Yangtze watershed.
The Consequences
So, what's the problem, you may ask?
What do you mean, "What's the problem?"!
This engineering marvel, begun in 1994 at Sandouping in Hubei Province, will eventually submerge "13 cities, 140 towns, more than 300 villages and 1600 factories," wrote Childs-Johnson in her article "Race Against Time", which was published in Archaeology Magazine in the November/December 1996 issue. Over 1.5 million people will be forced from their homes and made to abandon their ancestral lands, farms and holy places. The Qutang, Wu and Xiling Gorges and the exquisite scenery within them will be flooded by the building of this dam, forming a reservoir rivaling the size of Michigan's Lake Superior, or, the entire country of Sweden.
"The prevailing sentiment in China is multi-faceted. Certainly people whose livelihood has depended on the fertile banks of the Yangtze in the Three Gorges area of eastern Sichuan and western Hubei are dramatically affected and very emotionally against the dam," said Childs-Johnson in a recent email interview, ". . . On the other hand, those whose livelihoods depend on small industry or mercantile interests are promised money, the lure of hot and cold water, plumbing, gas stoves, new apartments, etc. and since these modernized amenities are attractive, these relocated people are more positive."
Childs-Johnson indicates that while great consideration has been taken in the matters of population relocation, flood control and possible pollution or ecological hazards resulting from the dam, little has been done to ensure preservatoin of an important piece of China's cultural heritage.
Originally, 3-5% of the dam's total budget, or $212 million, was estimated to be the amount needed for preservation of archaeological sites in the Three Gorges area. However, many problems have arisen, depriving the excavation proceedings of much needed funding and resources. As of the 1995/96 season, only $37.5 million had been allotted for this archaeological rescue mission of over 2,000 sites. (The total for saving the Egyptian temple at Abu Simbel from rising waters caused by the Aswan Dam was $40 million alone.) Unfortunately, these funds come out of a larger piece of the pie, those allotted to population relocation. Between accusation of serious fraud and a bureaucracy slow to determine which sites deserve priority, the excavations have ground to almost a complete halt.
What Can Be Done?
"What is needed to save this area from destruction is international help, and as my senior archaeology colleague has noted, the best solution is to found a non-government international foundation 'The Three Gorges International Fund for Cultural Heritage'," continues Childs-Johnson.
The colleague of which Childs-Johnson speaks is Dr. Yu Weichao, formerly the Director of the Chinese History Museum in Beijing and also formerly in charge of underground archaeology in the Three Gorges region. Childs-Johnson, Dr. Yu Weichao and others from the worlds of journalism, science and academia continue to struggle against those who would complete this dam disregarding all else.
"The dam is in the second phase of construction, diversion work is completed. Now the actual construction of the dam is underway. There is still a remote possibility of stopping the construction of the dam, but this depends on how enlightened the Chinese government under Zhu Rongji can be about this possibility and carrying it out. It (the Three Gorges Dam) is currently nine months behind schedule and seriously flawed," wrote Childs-Johnson.
What will be lost?
Barring some extraordinary circumstances, the history of an ancient Chinese Culture called the Ba will be lost forever. The Ba, explains Childs-Johnson, are thought to have inhabited the Three Gorges from ca. 2,100 B.C. to ca. 220 B.C. Ba relics are just beginning to be discovered and analyzed to determine the importance of these people in China's history. The Ba are especially known for their distinctive boat-shaped coffins, elaborate weaponry and bronze work. One of the most important Ba sites is Lijiaba in Yunyang county, Sichuan. Lijiaba has been identified as one of the most important sites in the region and major excavations were underway there during the 1998/99 archaeological season. This site has at least nine layers ranging in date from the Shang (ca. 2100 - 1700 B.C.) to the Qing dynasty (ca. 1800). Archaeological finds from this site include many burials, ritual jade and bronze vessels. Proper excavation and analysis of this site could take many years under normal circumstances. However, the quantity of sites still to be excavated and the lack of funds available will likely make that impossible.
Another site that will be inundated by the Yangtze's rising waters is the Buddhist monument at Single Pebble Village. At Single Pebble, a large niche was carved into the rock wall that hangs above the Yangtze. The niche holds a 7.5m tall statue of a seated Maitreya Buddha, who is flanked by two disciples. According to Childs-Johnson's article, "The Southern Cradle of Chinese Civilization: The Three Gorges", this site "continues to be the object of local worship and a gathering point on Buddhist holidays for Buddhists near and far."
It would be impossible to list all the endangered sites here, however, future articles will treat some of the sites in greater detail. In the meantime, construction continues on the Three Gorges Dam and the waters continue to flood countless historic sites as they begin to rise. It is estimated that once the dam is completed, it will take the river about 5 years to reach its maximum depth in the newly created reservoir. What then?
"The greatest tragedy of the Three Gorges is cultural. China has always prided itself on its cultural heritage. In fact, China's cultural heritage and tradition is the backbone of China's pride and China's survival as the oldest living culture (although Israel may dispute this claim). Chinese culture and tradition owe their survival to China's incredible respect for its culture and its exploitation of its cultural superiority in the face of domination by so many foreign peoples who ruled throughout its history," said Childs-Johnson, ". . . To lose the rich cultural heritage of the Three Gorges area is very sad and unfortunate. This is an area long celebrated by China's national heroes, Chu Yuan and Shang Fei and Ba remains and culture will be lost forever, as well."
Links
To learn more about the Three Gorges Dam Project, visit these sites, or, check back in 2 weeks for a continuation of the discussion on this topic.
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