Italian teacher dedicated to Silk Road archaeology

In recent years, the Silk Road archaeological work being carried out by the School of Cultural Heritage at Northwest University has achieved a series of significant breakthroughs, attracting widespread attention.

Italian associate professor Marcella Festa is one of the key figures contributing to this success.

Marcella Festa is currently a teacher from the School of Cultural Heritage at Northwest University. [Photo/Xi'an news network]

During her undergraduate studies in archaeology at the University of Milan in Italy, Festa quickly realized that her academic interests lay in faraway China, especially in the ancient Silk Road originating in the country.

As she delved deeper into her academic research, Marcella came to the realization that coming to China was the best choice if she wanted to study Chinese archaeology.

In 2019, her dream came true as she assumed a teaching position at the School of Cultural Heritage at Northwest University.

As a member of the archaeological team, over the past two years, Festa has been involved in the excavation and research of the Shirenzigou site in Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region.

During this time, she has also published several English papers on Chinese archaeology in international journals. "I hope that through international platforms, I can help Chinese archaeology better 'go global'."

This year marks Festa's fifth year in Xi'an. She leads a simple yet fulfilling life, drawing nourishment from the city's rich cultural heritage.

"Xi'an boasts numerous museums with regularly updated exhibits, such as the Shaanxi Archaeological Museum that opened in 2022, where our students have gained invaluable insights. It truly is a city of treasures."

In the future, she plans to continue cultivating her archaeological career in Xi'an, contributing to the ongoing vibrancy of the Silk Road archaeology.