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Archaeologists seeking funding for dig

Taiwan Solidarity Union (TSU) Legislator Mark Ho, right, gestures as he calls on the government to save the Huilai archaeological site in Taichung City. Ho was joined at the press conference by fellow TSU Legislator Kuo Lin-yung, left. PHOTO: WANG MIN-WEI, TAIPEI TIMES

A coalition of archaeologists and environmentalists yesterday called on the central government to fund the excavation of an archaeological site in Taichung City and designate it as a historic location.

According to Ho Chuan-kun (何傳坤), director of the National Museum of Natural Science in Tai-chung, the Huilai archaeological site (惠來遺址) project would cost an estimated NT$4 million.

While the city has promised to give Ho one year's time to excavate the area, it had not offered any additional funding.

Ho has been leading the excavation project since it began began three years ago. Fourteen skeletons of adults and children, and pottery and tools dating back to 4,000 years ago have been found so far.

The central government has provided NT$3 million for the dig over the years, and the city government has given NT$1.3 million.

Ho and his five-person team would be able to ask the city government to designate the area as an archaeological or historic site if a sufficient amount of items are found in a sizable area.

Ho said that he hopes to build a museum on the site and make it into a tourist attraction.

"Culture is a pivotal tourism resource and a money-making business," he said. "When you go to Tai-chung, you don't want to go to the biggest karaoke parlor. You want to go to the museum and see the cultural side of the city."

Lin Ching-chi (林清淇), deputy director of the Ministry of the Interior's department of civil affairs, however, made it clear yesterday that the ministry has not earmarked any money for the site in its annual budget for next year.

Since the Cultural Heritage Preservation Law (文化資產保護法) was amended in February, Lin said that the ministry is no longer the supervisory body for historic and archaeological sites -- the Council of Cultural Affairs is.

Council authorities, however, said that they do not expect to hammer out the timetable for the transfer of operations until the end of the month. The council's NT$870 million budget request for next year does not include the excavation.

Council officials, however, expect the city to make a funding request for the project during a meeting scheduled for later this month.
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