Colin Renfrew, world-renowned British archaeologist, visits Liangzhu relic sites in Hangzhou on March 21. [Photo/Qianjiang Evening News]

Colin Renfrew, world-renowned British archaeologist, visited Liangzhu relic sites in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province on March 21 and expressed confidence for the sites' inclusion on UNESCO's World Heritage List.

Liangzhu culture (3400-2250 BC) is a late Neolithic culture first discovered eighty years ago by Chinese archaeologists in the town of Liangzhu, Hangzhou. With more than 500 sites having been excavated to date, the primitive culture has been found to have played an important role in shaping ancient Chinese civilization.

In a speech given by Renfrew to a number of archaeologists and researchers from Zhejiang, Jiangsu and Shanghai, he noted Liangzhu culture's uniqueness, making comparisons between the Liangzhu relic sites and those of Mayan and Sumerian civilizations.

Renfrew believes Liangzhu culture is special and complex, offering a new opportunity for archaeologists to think about ancient civilizations. The development of water transportation in the ancient city of Liangzhu was rarely seen in Mesopotamian area, a fact which may inspire researchers to look at the culture in a totally new way.

Renfrew also agrees that effective and protective measures from the local government will give a strong boost to the relic sites' inclusion on the World Heritage List.

According to the government's plan, there will be a national cultural park at the relic site. The construction will focus on restoration of the ecology and protection of the relics.