The Oxford Handbook of the History and Practice of Chinese Archaeology

Archaeology publications tend to focus on the history of archaeology through a lens of an account and summary of discoveries without considering the contexts (cultural, intellectual, political, economic) of knowledge production that have shaped the course of these discoveries, the research questions asked, and the practice of the discipline. Chinese archaeology in particular has been presented largely in short single-author accounts that often focus exclusively on the Central Plains and to a lesser extent northern China.

New and varied perspectives on this topic are essential for a better understanding of not just the practice of archaeology in China, but also a well-rounded understanding of modern and present-day China. Historians, anthropologists, and archaeologists alike would benefit from a comprehensive overview of the region and its notable relationship to the discipline of archaeology.

The Oxford Handbook of the History and Practice of Chinese Archaeology is a multi-regional and multi-voiced account of the history of Chinese archaeology. It provides insights into the actors, structures, and motivations moving this history forward, from the beginnings of the discipline, up to the present day. This volume brings together 47 chapters contributed by a diverse community of scholars (archaeologists, historians, heritage specialists, and museum professionals) from Asia, Europe and North America to cover many of the most significant issues in Chinese archaeology: the discipline's origins in antiquarian practices at least a millennium old; its beginnings amid the cultural, intellectual and epistemological tumult of the early 20th century; the intersection of local and international scholarship in the formation of the discipline; the specificities of fieldwork practice and institutional organization; and the impact of scientific methods that have transformed knowledge production.