The Neolithic of southeast China : cultural transformation and regional interaction on the coast of southeast China during the Neolithic Period

Winner of the 2007 Philip and Eugenia Cho Award for Outstanding Scholarship in Asian Studies! In this book, leading archaeologist Tianlong Jiao takes us on an archaeological investigation into the patterns and processes involved in the cultural changes on the coast of Southeast China during the Neolithic period. The Neolithic of Southeast China began with a full array of pottery, polished stone tools and bone tools around 6500 B.P., and ended with the appearance of bronzes around 3500 B.P. This book takes us through the three periods: early (ca, 6500-5000 B.P.), middle (ca. 5000-4300 B.P.), and late (ca. 4300-3500 B.P.), detailing the transformation of subsistence patterns and the development of regional interaction spheres The Neolithic people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait were proto-Austronesians. They first expanded to Taiwan around 6500-5000 B.P., and maintained regular contacts with the mainland until 3500 B.P. Their expansions were possibly motivated by multiple factors such as trade and new immigrant pressure. Given the increasing international attention of the search for the homeland of Austronesian speakers, this book is especially timely since it addresses the implications of the Neolithic cultural changes of Southeast China and adds to our understanding of the early expansion of the proto-Austronesians. The foreword to this groundbreaking study is by world renowned archaeologist and scholar, Professor Ofer Bar-Yosef of Harvard University. Cover 1 Title Page 5 Table of Contents 8 List of Figures 16 List of Tables 21 Foreword 26 Acknowledgments 30 Chapter One: Introduction 36 Chapter Two: The Environment of Southeast China 58 Chapter Three: The Archaeological Sequence of Southeast China’s Prehistory 76 Chapter Four: Southeast China and the Austronesian Homeland 116 Chapter Five: Stone Adzes, Cultural Changes, and Regional Interactions in Neolithic Southeast China 140 Chapter Six: Archaeological Investigations of the Damaoshan Site 160 Chapter Seven: Analysis of the Damaoshan Archaeological Artifacts 178 Chapter Eight: Analysis of the Faunal Remains of the Damaoshan Site 214 Chapter Nine: Archaeological Investigations of the Huangguashan Site 230 Chapter Ten: Analysis of the Huangguashan Archaeological Materials 250 Chapter Eleven: Conclusion: Damaoshan, Huangguashan, and the Prehistory of Southeast China 288 Bibliography 296 Glossary of Chinese Characters 312 Index 314 A Historic Perspective Of Archaeological Research In Southeast China -- The Environment Of Southeast China -- The Archaeological Sequence Of Southeast China's Prehistory -- Southeast China And The Austronesian Homeland -- Stone Adzes, Cultural Changes, And Regional Interactions In Neolithic Southeast China -- Archaeological Investigations Of The Damaoshan Site -- Analysis Of The Damaoshan Archaeological Artifacts -- Analysis Of The Faunal Remains Of The Damaoshan Site -- Archaeological Investigations Of The Huangguashan Site -- Analysis Of The Huangguashan Archaeological Materials -- Conclusion: Damaoshan, Huangguashan, And The Prehistory Of Southeast China -- Glossary Of Chinese Characters. Tianlong Jiao. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [261]-276) And Index.