Chongqing-During the Yangtze River Civilization Forum held in Chongqing, Professor Magnus Widell from the University of Liverpool's School of Archaeology, Classics and Egyptology sat down for an exclusive interview with iChongqing.

In the interview, Professor Magnus shared his reflections on the Forum. Compared with other academic conferences he has attended, the forward-looking nature of the Yangtze River Civilization Forum left a deep impression on him. He believes that focusing on future development will help improve the lives of future generations living along the Yangtze River. He also expressed his hope that the Forum will promote more cross-cultural cooperation and exchanges in various forms. For instance, he suggested that students studying Mesopotamian civilization and Yangtze River civilization could benefit from joint supervision by academics from both Chinese and British universities.

When asked about protecting and preserving cultural heritage, Professor Magnus emphasized the importance of public involvement in safeguarding archaeological sites along river basins. He cited the successful preservation case of Çatalhöyük as an outstanding example. There, the effort to protect the renowned archaeological site was not limited to professionals but also actively involved local residents. As a result, the community developed a stronger connection to its historical heritage and spontaneously took on the role of guardians of the cultural relics.