American archaeologist Barry Rolett showcasing a photo taken with Fan Xuechun, Jiao Tianlong, and others at the Keqiutou Archaeological Site in Pingtan in 2004

A precious photograph, captured during a field investigation at the Keqiutou Site in Pingtan in 2004, has surfaced, triggering memories of an unforgettable archaeological expedition involving Chinese and American experts. The photograph, displayed on a digital screen at the newly inaugurated Keqiutou Site Museum in Pingtan, evoked nostalgic emotions for Barry Rolett, a professor of anthropology at the University of Hawaii and an archaeologist, who was invited to witness the historic opening on December 16.

"This photo is very valuable," said Rolett, pointing to the image which shows him posing with Fan Xuechun and Jiao Tianlong in front of the Keqiutou Site Protection Monument in Pingtan. "It brings back memories of our collaborative work here two decades ago."

The photograph serves as a reminder of the "unwritten history" unearthed by archaeologists at the Keqiutou Site. Fan Xuechun, president of the Pingtan International Austronesian Research Institute, vividly recalled the excavation work conducted in 2004.

"In 2004, a joint archaeological team composed of the Fujian Museum, the Bishop Museum in Hawaii, and the Department of Anthropology at the University of Hawaii embarked on a month-long excavation at the Keqiutou Site, with the theme 'Prehistoric Navigation in Southeast Asia and the Austronesian Peoples,'" Fan shared. "This was the second excavation at the site, following the initial dig in 1985 by the former Fujian Museum. Despite the small excavation area of just 12 square meters, the team, including Jiao Tianlong and Rolett, managed to collect stratigraphic samples for dating, revealing that the Keqiutou Cultural Site dates back to 6,500-5,500 years ago. This confirmed it as one of the earliest Neolithic sites along the Fujian coast and the source of prehistoric culture in Fujian and Taiwan."

A group photo of the 2004 archaeological excavation team (Fan Xuechun in the center, Barry Rolett on the right-second, Jiao Tianlong on the right-first) [File photo]

Jiao Tianlong, deputy curator of the Bowers Museum, also reminisced about their days in the field. "We were digging in the fields, and some villagers even asked what we were doing with the 'trash.' They didn't know that each layer of soil represented a cultural layer spanning different eras. Rolett, Fan, and I worked tirelessly, digging out pottery shards and shells, which we then took back to our residence to weigh and measure. It was a hot day, and Rolett even worked shirtless, while Fan's towel, used to wipe away sweat, turned yellow due to the perspiration. The understanding of Pingtan's prehistoric culture today is built on the hard work of archaeologists, who literally dug up an 'unwritten history.' It was a difficult but rewarding process."

In 2016, Rolett revisited Pingtan and, along with Fan, conducted a field survey at the Guishan Site. Based on the analysis of pottery shards and cultural layers unearthed, he proposed that Pingtan might have been the first stepping stone for the Austronesian peoples' maritime migration to French Polynesia.

"In recent years, the Austronesian peoples have become one of the icons of Fujian's maritime culture. An increasing number of authoritative studies point to Fujian and its adjacent areas as the homeland of the Austronesian peoples. This year, the Keqiutou Site Cluster in Pingtan was selected as one of the 'Top Ten Archaeological Discoveries in China 2023.'"

Rolett elaborated on his theory during the "International Austronesian Cultural Academic Salon" held on the opening day of the museum. "Our research indicates that the Austronesian ancestors, during their migration to the South Pacific, used red-clay pottery for food storage and brought along plant seeds for survival and reproduction. The pigs and dogs they had on their canoes originated from Southeast Asia, likely brought from China's coast to Taiwan, then through the Philippines, into the Pacific. I suggest that Pingtan could be the initial stepping stone for the Austronesian ancestors' maritime migration because both the plant genetics in Polynesia and the canoes can be traced back to the southeast coast of China. The ancestors might have migrated from Pingtan to Taiwan, then to the Philippines, Indonesia, and eventually settled in Pacific islands."

Jiao Tianlong echoed Rolett's view, stating, "Thousands of years ago, the Austronesian ancestors navigated the oceans using single and double-hulled canoes, guided by stars, monsoons, and ocean currents. They first reached Taiwan and then diffused eastward and southward, eventually forming a vast linguistic group known as the Austronesian peoples."

After 20 years, Fan Xuechun (left), Barry Rolett (center), and Jiao Tianlong (right) pose for a photo in front of the protective monument, a moment of reminiscence.

On the second day of the museum's opening, Rolett, Fan, and Jiao reunited at the Keqiutou Site Protection Monument, posing for a photo together after two decades. Their hair might have grayed, but their eyes remained as determined as ever.

Keqiutou Site Museum

Not far away, the Keqiutou Site Museum stood like a giant ship ready to sail, symbolizing the continuous exploration and preservation of history. As witnesses to the site's archaeological journey from scratch, the three experts, looking at the old photo, felt a deep sense of nostalgia and pride.

Rolett visits Keqiutou Site Museum

Rolett expressed his gratitude for being invited to the museum's opening and for having contributed to the archaeological endeavors in Pingtan. "From the initial field investigations to the various artifacts unearthed, especially the stone tools, it's evident that the ancestors at Keqiutou used similar implements to those found among the Austronesian peoples across various islands, such as adzed stone axes, cord-impressed shards, grooved stone hammers, and fishhooks, which are still in use today. The earliest evidence of these tools is found in Pingtan, suggesting it as the origin and development site. We will continue our research efforts in the Austronesian field," he affirmed.