雷玉华教授团队的《中国南方石窟窟前建筑的考古学研究》打破了石窟寺保护工程与考古学、石窟寺艺术研究互不交流的传统，以交叉学科的方式系统梳理了中国南方石窟的分布、特征和重要价值 ；以川渝地区为重点，运用考古学方法，对中国南方石窟窟前建筑、遗址和历代保护性设施等进行了考察分析 ；重释了南方石窟的 “原生状态”，解码崖面遗迹的多重意义。该成果弥合了学术与实践的鸿沟，填补了中国南方佛教石窟窟前建筑及相关遗迹调查的空白，重建了南方石窟及摩崖造像保护性设施的历史档案，提出了今天中国南方石窟保护性设施建设的诸多建议。

The research team led by Professor Lei Yuhua, through their Research on the Archaeology of Architectural Facades of Southern Chinese Grottoes, breaks the tradition of non-communication between the 
conservation engineering, archaeology and art studies of grotto temples. By employing an interdisciplinary 
methodology, the study systematically examines the distribution, characteristics, and significant value of grottoes in southern China. Utilizing archaeological methods, it investigates and analyzes front-cave architectures, ruins, and protective facilities of southern Chinese grottoes across different dynasties, with a particular focus on the SichuanChongqing area. The research reinterprets the “original state” of southern grottoes and decodes the multifaceted meanings of cliff engravings. The findings bridges the gap between academia and practice, fills a critical gap in the survey of front-cave architectures and related ruins of southern Buddhist grottoes, reconstructs the historical archives of protective facilities of cliff carvings and southern grottoes, and provides valuable recommendations for the construction of protective infrastructure for southern grottoes today.