Technology and Design in 4th and 3rd Millennium BCE China

This collection contains the abstracts of the papers presented in the session entitled "Technology and Design in 4th and 3rd Millennium BCE China," at the 84th annual meeting of the Society for American Archaeology.

In the Neolithic archaeology of China investigations into ancient technologies are by no means a new trend. However, a wealth of new material excavated in recent years inspires us to look again at techniques, designs, and technological choices in all manner of crafts, particularly ceramics, during the Late Neolithic Age. Furthermore, even when examining finds from decades ago, new insights about these concepts as well as new comparisons drawn from the archaeological, ethnographical, and ethnoarchaeological record are causing outdated paradigms concerning the production and use of certain types of artifacts to be overturned. During the time period of our focus, the 4th and 3rd millennia BCE, immense social changes are reflected in the material culture. The production of ceramic artifacts shows increased specialization as well as a remarkable escalation of scale in certain cases. In a parallel development, new designs in artifacts and built environments emerge to represent new social roles and hierarchies. At the same time, during the 4th and 3rd millennium BCE, the territory of China featured a rich diversity of cultures providing us with varied approaches to technology and design.