Cultural relics to star at Beimen metro station

2014-09-04

Cultural relics discovered during the construction of Beimen metro station in Taipei City are set to go in display in a dozen cabinets built into the floor of the facility’s passenger thoroughfare.

The first of its kind by metro operator Taipei Rapid Transit Corp., the initiative is inspired by a similar display at the Museum of Sydney in Australia. Passengers are expected to visit the station in droves, helping establish the facility as a tourist attraction in its own right.

Archaeologist Liu Jiun-yu, who supervised the four-year dig and display project, said most of the items date from the Qing dynasty (1684-1895) and Japanese colonial period (1895-1945).

“The location previously housed the Taipei Machinery Bureau, established around 1884 by former Taiwan Gov. Liu Ming-chuan to produce weapons. The buildings later served various military and railway functions under the Japanese.”

According to Liu, everyday objects such as beer bottles give useful insights into life at the time. “Although bottled beer was also produced in Taiwan during colonial times, only Japanese beer bottles were found in excavation of this layer. This indicates that the workers could afford expensive imports,” he said.

Items from the Japanese-era sewer system, as well as those used by a German construction inspector at the machinery bureau, are also included in the display.

Beimen, the first station on the new Songshan line, is due to open at year-end. It will connect to the Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport line, which is expected to start operating next year.

Source: Taiwan Today (http://taiwantoday.tw/ct.asp?xItem=221278&CtNode=413)