Ornaments as Indicators of Social Changes in Northeastern Taiwan before and after the European Colonial Period

Summary

This is an abstract from the session entitled "Islands of Time (General Sessions)" , at the 2021 annual meeting of the Society for Historical Archaeology.

The European expansion to the east in the 16th century led to many places becoming trading centers or European colonies, where imperial powers often caused substantial transformations of Indigenous societies. However, direct European colonial rule was rare and limited in many parts of East Asia. Long-lasting indirect impacts on Indigenous peoples at the periphery of colonial control, or pericolonial areas, are poorly understood. Analysis of abundant trade ornaments from Kiwulan (1350-1850 AD) in northeastern Taiwan provide insights into the indirect impacts of European colonial activities on Indigenous societies. We found the diversity of ornaments was greater during the period of European presence compared to previous periods, and their spatial distribution was more clustered. This hints at increasing social inequality resulting from colonial influence. Ornaments help us understand increasing social inequalities stimulated by the European colonial presence, and show the agency of Indigenous people to incorporate ornaments into their social system.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Society for Historical Archaeology 2021   •
• Islands of Time (General Sessions)

Keywords

Individual & Institutional Roles

Contact(s): Society for Historical Archaeology