This book draws attention to the importance of theoretical problems in archaeological research in China. At present, Chinese archaeology has adoped the traditional culture-historical paradigm, with research themes has mainly focused on chronology and cultural relationships. The lack of training at theoretical thinking and scientific methods, such as positivist methods and logical reasoning, it has become difficult to reconstruct the processes of human behavior and social change with rigorous steps of looking at people behind the artifacts. As a response to this situation, this book discusses various problems that bother Chinese archaeologists in terms of the advances of archaeological theories and methods. This book emphasizes the importance for theoretical guidance and problem awareness in archaeological research, while illustrates this scientific philosophy with diversified case studies. The purpose of this volume is trying to summarize the history and practice of Chinese archaeology in the global context. It will greatly broaden the perspective of researchers all over the world with an insight into this particular practice and can also serve as a comprehensive reference work in the field of Chinese archaeology.

Autorentext

Chun Chen is a professor from Department of Cultural Heritage and Museology of Fudan University. He has obtained his Ph.D. from McGill University in Montreal, Canada in 1992. His research interests include Paleolithic archaeology, archaeological method and theory, transition from hunter-gathering to food production, origin of civilization and early states. He has published widely in the field, including A Story of Early Man in China; Theory and Research in Archaeology; Archaeological Theory; Archaeology of the present; Exploration of the Origin of Civilization and Early States; Introduction to Archaeological Research; Frontiers of Archaeology: Theories and Issues; From Prehistory to Civilization; Essays of Armchair Archaeology.

Inhalt

Epistemology and Methodology.- Paleolithic Archaeology.- Study of the Origin of Agriculture.- Exploration of Civilization and States.- Post-processual Archaeology and Others.