The Formation of Chinese Civilization: An Archaeological Perspective

Eminent scholars from China and America show how archaeological evidence establishes that Chinese culture did not spread from a single central area, as was long assumed, but emerged out of geographically diverse, interacting Neolithic cultures. Taking us to the great archaeological finds of the past hundred years-tombs, temples, palaces, cities-they shed new light on many aspects of Chinese life. With a wealth of fascinating detail and hundreds of reproductions of archaeological discoveries, including very recent ones, this book is an invaluable resource for anyone interested in Chinese antiquity and Chinese views on the formation of their own civilization.

Co-published with New World Press, Beijing

The Culture & Civilization of China series is a joint publishing venture of Yale University Press and the China International Publishing Group in Beijing

For more information on the series see www.Yalebooks.com/China

Paleolithic sites from one million years ago, Neolithic sites with extraordinary jade and ceramic artifacts, excavated tombs and palaces of the Shang and Zhou dynastiesand#151;all these are part of the archaeological riches of China. This magnificent book surveys Chinaand#8217;s archaeological remains and in the process rewrites the early history of the worldand#8217;s most enduring civilization.

Eminent scholars from China and America show how archaeological evidence establishes that Chinese culture did not spread from a single central area, as was long assumed, but emerged out of geographically diverse, interacting Neolithic cultures. Taking us to the great archaeological finds of the past hundred yearsand#151;tombs, temples, palaces, citiesand#151;they shed new light on many aspects of Chinese life. With a wealth of fascinating detail and hundreds of reproductions of archaeological discoveries, including very recent ones, this book is an invaluable resource for anyone interested in Chinese antiquity and Chinese views on the formation of their own civilization.

Million-year-old Paleolithic sites, extraordinary jade and ceramic artifacts from Neolithic sites, excavated tombs and palaces of the Zhou and Shang dynastiesand#151;all are part of the archaeological riches of China. This magnificent book surveys Chinaand#8217;s archaeological remains, takes us to the great finds of the past century, offers new insight into the formation of Chinese culture, and presents hundreds of fascinating illustrations.

K. C. Chang, the late John E. Hudson Professor of Anthropology at Harvard University, was the author of many books, including The Archaeology of Ancient China, published by Yale University Press. Xu Pingfang is the former director of the Institute of Archaeology of the Academy of Social Sciences in Beijing. Sarah Allan is the Burlington Northern Foundation Chair of Asian Studies at Dartmouth College and the author of numerous books.