Imagine that you are a detective at the scene of a crime. What you find is confusion. Evidence has been moved, stepped on, broken. You even suspect that someone took crucial items as souvenirs! This would make your job much more difficult, right? 【小题1】

Archaeologists are like detectives. We study clues left by people long ago and learn a lot about them: their culture, their environment, where they came from, and where they went. Anything made or modified by people is an artifact(文物). 【小题2】 These clues add to the great puzzle of history-- our history.

Archaeological sites are important to our cultural heritage. Laws protect them against damage by neglect, vandalism, or looters(掠夺者). Laws also help to preserve sites on public land. 【小题3】 This is true except in cases where human bones are found. Special laws regulate what can be done with human remains.

What if you find an artifact- -maybe an arrowhead, a piece of pottery, or an old cowboy spur --in your backyard? 【小题4】 Write down anything you notice. Is it on the surface, or was it buried? Are there other artifacts nearby? Take pictures. Every detail can help explain the artifact and maybe even reveal who left it behind.

【小题5】 What is the local Native American tribe? Was there an old colonial or western town nearby? Were battles fought in your area in the revolution or the Civil War?

Then contact your state’s historic preservation officer or an archaeologist at a nearby college or university. These experts can help explain what you found.

The big fire in April that tore through the Notre Dame Cathedral(巴黎圣母院) in Paris is still fresh in people’s minds. The 800-year-old landmark suffered great damage to its top, but thankfully the most valuable religious relics and cultural treasures were undamaged.

So a US publishing company GoArchitect organized the People’s Design Competition to invite designers, worldwide to share their ideas of rebuilding the French landmark. The open call attracted more than 200 proposals from 56 countries and regions. In the end, Chinese architects Cai Zeyu and Li Sibei won the competition with their striking design. They are both the post-90s generation.

Named “Paris Heartbeat”, the design replaces the old top with a kaleidoscope(万花筒) of multifaceted mirrors, which is combined with a mirror roof, reflecting the ever–changing urban environment.

The kaleidoscope is the floating “time capsule”, at the top using magnetic levitation(磁悬浮) technology, which is meant to open every half century. The “time capsule” moves up and down, breathing and beating together with the city.

“I believe that the ‘time capsule’ can be achieved with present technology,” Cai told the Global Times.

The pair hoped that their design, Paris Heartbeat, could meet people’s high expectations for the rebuilding. As Cai and Li told GoArchitect, “Notre Dame witnessed Parisian history. It burns, survives and co-breathes with the ever-changing world…The 2019 fire will mark a new era.”

Though people still don’t know what kind of design the French government will choose, it’s clear that people around the world hope that the lost beauty of Notre Dame will come back. Once rebuilt, it will certainly become a permanent part of history and the Parisian skyline again.

The UNESCO has recognized the Chinese art of paper cutting on its Intangible Cultural Heritage List. But paper cutting is at the risk of disappearing.

Voyo Woo, a Chinese immigrant, who loves paper cutting, worked hard to celebrate the ancient art form. With a keen interest in paper cutting, Ms Woo held a paper cutting exhibition at a shopping center near Washington. “I really love it. I get so much fun by doing it. So I’m just kind of hoping that more people will learn about this art which is about to disappear. I think it’s time to take action. So I held it.”

Voyo Woo began to study paper cutting when she was a 14-year-old girl in southeastern China. Voyo Woo’s teacher gave her extra training after class because Voyo Woo discovered a special love for it. Later, her beautiful paper cuttings won second prize in a national painting competition. “Paper is the easiest material that you can find. You can just turn it into beautiful art. I think it is like magic to me.”

Ms Woo came to the US after she finished college in 2008. She has been invited to show the art at a wide collection of events. She also has shown her skill and works at famous museums like the Smithsonian Institution’s Freer and Sackler art galleries in Washington.

“I saw so many people coming to me and asking me. They were amazed. I think it’s important to introduce the art form to American people or anyone who is interested.”

Ms Woo placed examples of her art around her as she displayed paper cutting at the shopping center. Ann Russ, a shopper, was attracted by the nature of the work. She said it put her at ease. “I like to know about Chinese art, specifically because it’s almost relaxing to put that much effort into it,” Russ said.