According to a report by CCTV on May 10th, China and France are set to collaborate on the conservation and research of Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris and the wooden remains and earthen archaeological sites of the Mausoleum of Emperor Qinshihuang.

A director from the Emperor Qinshihuang's Mausoleum Site Museum stated that both the Mausoleum of Emperor Qinshihuang in China and the Notre Dame Cathedral in France are globally renowned world heritage sites, both of which have extensively used wooden materials and have suffered from fire damage. For instance, during the construction of the Terracotta Warriors' pits, a significant number of wooden components were used, and wooden remains such as chariots and parts of weapons have been unearthed, some of which have been subjected to varying degrees of burning. Similarly, the Notre Dame Cathedral also possesses numerous wooden architectural components, with its wooden roof structure severely damaged by fire in 2019. Therefore, the two sides have chosen the conservation of wooden remains as a common issue to initiate their cooperation.

Additionally, archaeological sites like the Terracotta Warriors' pits primarily consist of soil. The protection of such soil sites differs from common open-air soil sites as it requires addressing the challenges posed by their unique environmental and pathological characteristics and catering to the needs for archaeology, conservation, research, exhibition, and utilization to develop a sustainable protection and utilization scientific system. Therefore, there is a hope to collaborate with heritage institutions in France to research the conservation of archaeological soil sites and promote Chinese concepts of archaeological soil site protection internationally.

It is understood that due to the scarcity and non-renewability of cultural relics, the cooperation will begin with basic research conducted in the form of laboratory analysis and simulated experiments. In addition, the two sides will jointly cultivate young talents in the field of cultural heritage protection technology.

In April 2019, Notre Dame Cathedral was devastated by a massive fire, destroying its iconic spire and roof. Luckily, the main structure was preserved. On November 6th, 2019, the National Cultural Heritage Administration of China announced that China and France had signed a cooperation document in Beijing to collaborate on the restoration of Notre Dame Cathedral, with Chinese experts participating in the restoration work.

According to French media reports in February this year, it is expected that the newly rebuilt spire of Notre Dame Cathedral will be fully restored during the Paris Olympics. However, this does not mean the completion of the restoration project, which is estimated to be finished in 2029 or 2030.

Cultural heritage cooperation has always been one of the most dynamic highlights in the cultural relations between China and France. Since its excavation, the Terracotta Warriors have had a deep connection with France. Four former French presidents, including Mitterrand, Chirac, Sarkozy, and current President Macron, have all visited the Museum of the Mausoleum of Emperor Qinshihuang.

In recent years, cultural institutions in Shaanxi Province have carried out cooperation projects with France and jointly conducted protection training. For example, they conducted the protection research of Gongshu Hall, a Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) temple, and the stone carvings at Maoling, an emperor's mausoleum of the Western Han Dynasty (206 BC to 24 AD).

This time's collaborative research project is just one of the international cultural heritage restoration, protection, and research projects that China has been deeply involved in over the past decade. China has already carried out over 30 cultural relics assistance projects with 17 Belt and Road Initiative partner countries, strengthening cultural exchanges and mutual learning among countries and ethnic groups. In the future, more world heritage restoration projects will be imbued with "Chinese wisdom."

中法联合修复巴黎圣母院，更多世界文化遗产修复蕴含“中国智慧”

据5月10日央视报道，中法将联合开展巴黎圣母院与秦始皇帝陵木质遗存和土遗址保护研究。

秦始皇帝陵博物院相关负责人介绍，中国秦始皇帝陵与法国巴黎圣母院都是闻名全球的世界文化遗产，均曾使用大量的木质材料且存在过火木质遗存。如秦兵马俑坑的建筑使用了大量木质构件，也出土了战车、兵器局部构件等木质遗迹，这些木质遗存在历史上遭到过不同程度的焚烧；而巴黎圣母院也保有大量木质建筑构件，其木质屋架在2019年被严重焚毁。因此，双方选择了木质遗存保护这一共性问题作为双方合作的切入点。

另一方面，秦兵马俑坑等考古遗址主要为土质，这类土遗址的保护与常见的露天土遗址不同，需要结合其自身环境与病害特征，面向考古、保护、研究、展示、利用的全链条需求，发展可持续的保护利用科学体系。因此，希望同法国的遗产机构一同开展考古土遗址的保护研究，同时在国际上推广中国特色的考古土遗址保护理念。

据了解，由于文物资源的稀缺性与不可再生性，此次合作，双方将首先通过实验室分析与模拟试验的形式开展基础研究。同时，双方还将利用本次合作机会，共同培养文化遗产科技保护的青年人才。

2019年4月，巴黎圣母院突发大火，一座标志性尖塔倒塌、屋顶塌陷，但主体建筑得以保存。2019年11月6日，国家文物局宣布，中法双方在京签署合作文件，就巴黎圣母院修复开展合作，中国专家将参与巴黎圣母院修复工作。

据法国媒体今年2月报道，预计新修建的巴黎圣母院尖顶将在巴黎奥运会期间完全复原。但这并不代表修复工程竣工，竣工预计要到2029年至2030年。

文化遗产合作一直是中法两国文化关系中最具活力的亮点之一。秦兵马俑自出土以来，就与法国结下不解之缘。法国的四位前总统，密特朗、希拉克和萨科齐以及现任总统马克龙都曾到访秦陵博物院。

近年来，陕西文博机构先后开展了中法“公输堂彩绘木作保护研究”“茂陵石刻保护”等合作项目，并联合开展保护培训。

这只是近十年来中国深入参与的国际文化遗产修复、保护与研究的项目之一。中国目前已与17个共建“一带一路”国家开展了超过30个文物援助项目，加强了不同国家、不同民族间的文化交流互鉴。越来越多的世界遗产修复项目中蕴含“中国智慧”。

来源丨羊城晚报·羊城派综合新华社、人民日报、中央电视台等
翻译丨刘佳慧