New Taipei: The Shihsanhang Museum of Archaeology in New Taipei is set to unveil a new exhibition exploring the connections between ancient Austronesian physical activities and contemporary sports, starting this Friday. The exhibition is strategically timed with the upcoming World Masters Games in Taipei and New Taipei, and will be open to the public from January 17 to September 14, 2025, at the museum's Special Exhibition Hall I.

According to Focus Taiwan, the exhibition, titled "Exhibition of Ancient Life and Modern Sport," draws parallels between traditional Austronesian practices and modern sporting events, featuring items from Taiwan, Southeast Asia, and Oceania. The showcased themes include archery, throwing, weightlifting, and rowing. It also emphasizes the resemblance between ancient ceremonial practices associated with hunting and farming and the rituals that precede current sporting competitions.

Promotional materials from the museum note that success in these ancient endeavors often led to increased resources and divine status within the community. The exhibition further includes three-dimensional models of human bones discovered at the Shihsanhang Site, an archaeological site that reveals details about the prehistoric Taiwanese Iron Age culture. These models aim to demonstrate the effects of physical activities on human anatomy and provide insights into sports safety.

Visitors to the museum, located in New Taipei's Bali District, can explore the exhibition from Monday to Friday between 9:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., and on weekends and national holidays from 9:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., as per the museum's official website. The museum remains closed on the first Monday of each month.

Admission is priced at NT$80 (US$2.42) for foreign nationals and Taiwanese from outside New Taipei. Free entry is available for registered New Taipei residents, seniors aged 65 and over, indigenous Taiwanese aged 55 and over, and full-time students in Taiwan.