New Thoughts on Current Archaeological Research in Neolithic and Bronze Age China

Part of: Society for American Archaeology 90th Annual Meeting, Denver, CO (2025)

This collection contains the abstracts of the papers presented in the session entitled "New Thoughts on Current Archaeological Research in Neolithic and Bronze Age China" at the 90th annual meeting of the Society for American Archaeology.

This session brings together scholars actively engaged in research on the archaeology of Neolithic and Bronze Age China and cultural heritage management. The participants, who have primarily conducted their fieldwork and analyses in the upper and middle Yellow River valley, are re-evaluating the assumptions and frameworks used to interpret their collected data. In this session, the participants will present findings from surveys, excavations, settlement pattern studies, ceramic analyses, zooarchaeology, and other related fields. The ongoing archaeological fieldwork and multidisciplinary research have generated significant new insights and deepened our understanding of the various economic, social, and political developments in early China.

Other Keywords
Zooarchaeology • Ceramic Analysis • Material Culture and Technology • Asia: East Asia

Resources Inside This Collection (Viewing 1-11 of 11)

  • Documents (11)
Documents
  • Burial rituals and customs: A study of the horse remains from chariot-horse pit No.2 at the site of Yaoheyuan (2025)
    DOCUMENT Citation Only Yue Li.

    This is an abstract from the "New Thoughts on Current Archaeological Research in Neolithic and Bronze Age China" session, at the 90th annual meeting of the Society for American Archaeology. In this study, we analyzed the chariot-horse pit No.2 (CMK2) at the site of Yaoheyuan in northwestern China. We reconstructed the sequence of horse interments based on on-site extraction of horse remains and zooarchaeological analysis. We also explored the human behaviors and related ritual practices...

  • Early evidence of post-mortem fetal extrusion in equids: A case from the Western Zhou period site of Yaoheyuan in northwestern China (2025)
    DOCUMENT Citation Only Zexian Huang.

    This is an abstract from the "New Thoughts on Current Archaeological Research in Neolithic and Bronze Age China" session, at the 90th annual meeting of the Society for American Archaeology. We analyzed horse remains from a chariot-horse pit (CMK2) associated with elite burials at the Bronze Age site of Yaoheyuan in northwestern China. Among the horses interred in this specific pit, one adult female and one infant show evidence of post-mortem fetal extrusion. This conclusion is based on an...

  • The evolution and development of prehistoric settlements in the eastern Tianshan Mountain region (2025)
    DOCUMENT Citation Only Jian Ma.

    This is an abstract from the "New Thoughts on Current Archaeological Research in Neolithic and Bronze Age China" session, at the 90th annual meeting of the Society for American Archaeology. Based on the archaeological fieldwork in the past several years, this study explores the evolution and development of prehistoric settlements in the eastern Tianshan Mountain region in Xinjiang, northwestern China.

  • The evolution mode of painted pottery in the upper reaches of the Yellow River (2025)
    DOCUMENT Citation Only Honghai Chen.

    This is an abstract from the "New Thoughts on Current Archaeological Research in Neolithic and Bronze Age China" session, at the 90th annual meeting of the Society for American Archaeology. The Hehuang Valley in the upper reaches of the Yellow River is a climate transition zone, a geomorphic environment transition zone, an economic pattern change zone, a cultural exchange zone, and a ethnic group migration zone. The painted pottery found in the upper reaches of the Yellow River was the...

  • The function of the “large house” of the Miaodigou Culture and the social complexity (2025)
    DOCUMENT Citation Only Weilin Wang.

    This is an abstract from the "New Thoughts on Current Archaeological Research in Neolithic and Bronze Age China" session, at the 90th annual meeting of the Society for American Archaeology. The grand and complex semi-subterranean pentagonal houses were one of the significant hallmarks of the Miaodigou Culture, and many scholars have studied their function. This study, through a re-examination of the internal structure, surrounding remains, and related factors of such houses, suggests that...

  • New archaeological findings from Emperor Qin Shihuang's mausoleum (2025)
    DOCUMENT Citation Only Gang Li.

    This is an abstract from the "New Thoughts on Current Archaeological Research in Neolithic and Bronze Age China" session, at the 90th annual meeting of the Society for American Archaeology. This presentation introduces new archaeological findings from Emperor Qin Shihuang's mausoleum in the past few years.

  • A preliminary survey and study of Neolithic sites on the northern foothills of the Qinling Mountains in the Xi’an region (2025)
    DOCUMENT Citation Only Wei Zhang.

    This is an abstract from the "New Thoughts on Current Archaeological Research in Neolithic and Bronze Age China" session, at the 90th annual meeting of the Society for American Archaeology. This project focuses on Neolithic cultural remains in the Xi'an region along the northern foothills of the Qinling Mountains, dating back approximately 9000 to 4000 years. The aim of the project is to better understand the chronology, scope, distribution characteristics, and cultural significance of...

  • The site of Lushanmao and the inheritance and evolution of ritual architecture in early China (2025)
    DOCUMENT Citation Only Mingzhi Ma.

    This is an abstract from the "New Thoughts on Current Archaeological Research in Neolithic and Bronze Age China" session, at the 90th annual meeting of the Society for American Archaeology. The Lushanmao site has uncovered the foundation of a quadrangle courtyard-style palace from the early Longshan period, marking the beginning of courtyard-style palace architecture during the Xia, Shang, and Zhou periods. Notably, the palaces of the Western Zhou period strictly adhered to the symmetrical...

  • A study of secondary burials in Bronze Age Qaidam Basin (2025)
    DOCUMENT Citation Only Meng Guo.

    This is an abstract from the "New Thoughts on Current Archaeological Research in Neolithic and Bronze Age China" session, at the 90th annual meeting of the Society for American Archaeology. The Qaidam Basin is located in Qinghai Province, northwestern China. This presentation discusses the discovery and nature of secondary burials in Bronze Age Qaidam Basin.

  • A study of the display of prehistoric site museums: taking Banpo Museum as an example (2025)
    DOCUMENT Citation Only Jianhong Zhou.

    This is an abstract from the "New Thoughts on Current Archaeological Research in Neolithic and Bronze Age China" session, at the 90th annual meeting of the Society for American Archaeology. Banpo Museum, built on the Neolithic site of Banpo in Xi'an, Shaanxi Province, is one of the oldest archaeological site museums in China. This presentation discusses the display of prehistoric site museums in China, using Banpo Museum as an example.

  • A study of the Quailing Culture at the site of Suyang (2025)
    DOCUMENT Citation Only Linlin Zhai.

    This is an abstract from the "New Thoughts on Current Archaeological Research in Neolithic and Bronze Age China" session, at the 90th annual meeting of the Society for American Archaeology. This presentation discusses the nature of archaeological remains associated with the Qujialing Culture recovered at the Neolithic site of Suyang in Henan, China