New Frontiers in the Neolithic Archaeology of Taiwan (5600–1800 BP) : A Perspective of Maritime Cultural Interaction

This book summarizes the systematic research on the Neolithic cultures of Taiwan, based on the latest archaeological discoveries, and focusing on the maritime interactions between mainland southeast China, Taiwan, and southeast Asia during (5600-1800 BP). The study demonstrates and sheds light on the distinctiveness of Taiwan's Neolithic cultures, their interactions with the external cultures of its surrounding regions, the maritime cultural diffusion and early seafaring across sea regions like the Taiwan Strait, Bashi channel and South China Sea. Drawing on the author's deep understanding of Taiwan and its surrounding regions, the book also incorporates recent archeological findings by Taiwanese researchers. Further, based on a new reconstruction of the spatiotemporal framework of Taiwanese prehistoric cultures, the chronologically arranged chapters discuss Neolithic cultures of the early, middle, late and final stage of this island region, revealing the prehistoric cultural development, regional typology and their maritime interactions with surrounding regions. The typological study of the native traits and external cultural influences of each stage of Neolithic culture shows the prehistoric and early history of this key stepping stone in the Asia-Pacific region.-- Provided by publisher Contents 7 List of Figures 11 List of Tables 16 1 Introduction 17 1.1 Taiwan as a Cultural Stepping Stone between Continental East Asia and the Pacific 17 1.2 A Review of Research into Taiwan’s Prehistoric Cultures: From Material Culture to the Origin of Austronesians 19 1.2.1 Early Investigations into the Origins of Material Cultures by Japanese Scholars in Taiwan 20 1.2.2 Archaeological Research by Scholars from Both Sides of the Taiwan Strait: Discussion of Cultural Interactions between Continental Asia and Islands 25 1.2.3 Western Scholars’ Research into the Origins of the Austronesian Peoples 29 1.3 Methodology and Framework of This Book 36 1.3.1 Synthesis of Archaeological Materials and Reconstruction of a Chronology of Prehistoric Cultures of Taiwan 36 1.3.2 Conducting Synchronically Comparative Research on Mainland-Islands Prehistoric Cultural Interactions 37 References 39 2 Spatial-Temporal Framework for the Prehistoric Cultures of Taiwan (5600–1800 BP) 44 2.1 Revision of the Spatial-temporal Framework for the Neolithic Cultures of Taiwan 44 2.1.1 Summary of the Cultural Sequence of Neolithic Taiwan 44 2.1.2 Spatial Distribution of Neolithic Cultures in Taiwan 46 2.1.3 New Recognition of the Chronology of Taiwan’s Prehistory 52 2.2 Spatial Interaction and Temporal Evolution of Taiwan’s Neolithic Cultures 54 2.2.1 Spatial Patterns of Neolithic Taiwan—The Sub-regional Cultural Sequences Developing Separately in Northern, Central, Southern, and Eastern Taiwan 55 2.2.2 Temporal Sequences of Neolithic Taiwan—Cultural Commonalities Respectively during the Early, Middle, Late, and Final Neolithic Ages 58 2.3 Conclusion 63 2.3.1 Unification of Diverse Cultures in Prehistoric Taiwan 63 2.3.2 Maritime Cultural Contacts between Taiwan and External Areas 65 References 67 3 Archaeological Cultures and Their Maritime Interactions during the Tapenkeng Period (5600–4200 BP) 69 3.1 Archaeological Cultures during the Tapenkeng Period 69 3.1.1 Northern Taiwan: Shuntanpu Early Culture 69 3.1.2 Central Taiwan: Niumatou Early Culture 75 3.1.3 Southern Taiwan: Kuoyeh Culture 81 3.1.4 Eastern Taiwan: Tapenkeng Period Features of the Yuemei III and Changkuang Sites 85 3.1.5 Commonalities and Regional Characteristics Among Cultures of Tapenkeng Period in Taiwan 90 3.2 Maritime Interactions with External Prehistoric Cultures during the Tapenkeng Period 94 3.2.1 Overview of Interactions between Taiwan’s Prehistoric Cultures and the Southeast Coast of Continental East Asia during the Tapenkeng Period 94 3.2.2 Influence of Liangzhu Culture 97 3.2.3 Influence of Lower Layer of Keqiutou Culture and Lower and Middle Layers of Tanshishan Culture in Fujian 100 3.2.4 Commonalities and Interactions with Xiantouling-Tawan Culture in the Pearl River Delta, Guangdong 101 3.3 Conclusion 106 References 107 4 Archaeological Cultures during the Successive Period of TPK and Their Maritime Connections (4200–3200 BP) 112 4.1 Archaeological Culture of the Successive Period of TPK 112 4.1.1 Northern Taiwan: Shuntanpu Late Culture 112 4.1.2 Central Taiwan: Niumatou Late Culture 118 4.1.3 Southern Taiwan: Niuchoutsu Culture 121 4.1.4 Eastern Taiwan: Takeng and Fushan Cultures 127 4.1.4.1 Takeng Culture 127 4.1.4.2 Fushan Culture 131 4.1.5 Sustained Development of the Successive Period of TPK 137 4.2 Maritime Interactions and Exchanges during the Successive Period of TPK 138 4.2.1 Maritime Interactions between the Niuchoutsu and Maqiao Cultures 138 4.2.2 Cross Strait Exchange between Shuntanpu Late Culture and Fujian’s Zhuangbianshan Upper Layer Type 142 4.2.3 Exchanges between the Successive Period of TPK and Southern Fujian Bronze Culture 143 4.2.4 Interactions between the Successive Period of TPK and&!blank; Late Baojingwan Culture of Pearl River Delta in Guangdong 144 4.2.5 Maritime Cultural Interactions between the Successive Period of TPK and the Philippines’ Prehistoric Cultures 148 4.3 Conclusion 150 References 150 I. Chinese and Japanese 150 II. Western Languages 155 5 Archaeological Cultures during the Late and Final Neolithic Ages, and Their Maritime Connections (3200–1800 BP) 156 5.1 Archaeological Cultures during the Late and Final Neolithic Ages 157 5.1.1 Northern Taiwan: Yuanshan and Botanical Garden Cultures 157 5.1.1.1 Yuanshan Culture 157 5.1.1.2 Botanical Garden Culture 161 5.1.2 Central Taiwan: Yinpu Culture 164 5.1.3 Southern Taiwan: Tahu Culture 169 5.1.4 East Coast: Peinan and Sanhe Cultures 174 5.1.4.1 Peinan Culture 174 5.1.4.2 Sanhe Culture 181 5.1.5 Successive Development of Late and Final Neolithic Ages of Taiwan 185 5.2 Maritime Cultural Exchanges and Interactions during the Late and Final Neolithic Ages 191 5.2.1 Interactions between Late Neolithic Cultures in Taiwan and Coastal Areas of Zhejiang, Fujian, and Guangdong During the Shang and Zhou Dynasties 191 5.2.1.1 Yuanshan Culture 191 5.2.1.2 Yinpu Culture 194 5.2.1.3 Peinan Culture 196 5.2.2 Interactions between Taiwan’s Final Neolithic Age and Baiyue Cultures of Coastal Regions of Zhejiang, Fujian, and Guangdong from the Zhou to Han Dynasties 201 5.2.2.1 Botanical Garden Culture 202 5.2.2.2 Sanhe Culture 202 5.2.3 The Continued Transmission of Taiwan’s Prehistoric Cultures Southward to the Philippines 204 5.2.3.1 The Influence of Pottery Cultures of Taiwan on the Philippines 204 5.2.3.2 Southernward Transmission of Taiwan’s Stone Implements 206 5.2.3.3 Tapa Beaters 208 5.2.3.4 Southern Transmission of Taiwan’s Nephrite Artifacts 208 5.3 Conclusion 213 References 215 6 Conclusion 221 6.1 Unification and Integration of Pluralistic Prehistoric Cultures on the Island of Taiwan 221 6.2 Taiwan’s Diverse and Bilateral Maritime Connections 223 6.2.1 Maritime Cultural Connections around the Island of Taiwan 223 6.2.2 Diverse Maritime Cultural Transmissions between the Mainland and Taiwan 224 6.2.2.1 Maritime Exchanges during the Tapenkeng Period 224 6.2.2.2 Maritime Exchanges during the Successive Period of TPK 225 6.2.2.3 Maritime Exchanges during the Late and Final Neolithic Ages 225 6.2.2.4 The Imbalance of Maritime Cultural Transmission and Exchanges between the Mainland and Taiwan 226 6.2.3 Maritime Cultural Interaction between Taiwan and the Philippines 228 6.3 Future Topics Relating to the History of Maritime Cultural Relationships of Neolithic Taiwan in the Asia-Pacific Region 229 6.3.1 Re-examination of the Cultural Relationships between Indigenous Yue Peoples and Proto-Austronesians 230 6.3.2 Further Exploration of the Dissemination of Taiwanese Neolithic Cultures to the Philippines 231 References 232 Bibliography 232 This book summarizes the systematic research on the Neolithic cultures of Taiwan, based on the latest archaeological discoveries, and focusing on the maritime interactions between mainland southeast China, Taiwan, and southeast Asia during 5200-1800 B.P. The study demonstrates and sheds light on the distinctiveness of Taiwan's Neolithic cultures, their interactions with the external cultures of its surrounding regions, the maritime cultural diffusion and early seafaring across sea regions like the Taiwan Strait, Bashi channel and South China Sea. Drawing on the author's deep understanding of Taiwan and its surrounding regions, the book also incorporates recent archeological findings by Taiwanese researchers. Further, based on a new reconstruction of the spatiotemporal framework of Taiwanese prehistoric cultures, the chronologically arranged chapters discuss Neolithic cultures of the early, middle, late and final stage of this island region, revealing the prehistoric cultural development, regional typology and their maritime interactions with surrounding regions. The typological study of the native traits and external cultural influences of each stage of Neolithic culture shows the prehistoric and early history of this key stepping stone in the Asia-Pacific region Front Matter ....Pages i-xvii Introduction (Su-chiu Kuo)....Pages 1-27 Spatial-Temporal Framework for the Prehistoric Cultures of Taiwan (5600–1800 BP) (Su-chiu Kuo)....Pages 29-53 Archaeological Cultures and Their Maritime Interactions during the Tapenkeng Period (5600–4200 BP) (Su-chiu Kuo)....Pages 55-97 Archaeological Cultures during the Successive Period of TPK and Their Maritime Connections (4200–3200 BP) (Su-chiu Kuo)....Pages 99-142 Archaeological Cultures during the Late and Final Neolithic Ages, and Their Maritime Connections (3200–1800 BP) (Su-chiu Kuo)....Pages 143-207 Conclusion (Su-chiu Kuo)....Pages 209-224