Chinese Archaeology Workshop: Developments and Challenges

with speakers

Lothar von Falkenhausen (University of California, Los Angeles, Art History/Archaeology)

Sarah E. Fraser (Universität Heidelberg, Ostasiatische Kunstgeschichte)

Enno Giele (Universität Heidelberg, Sinologie)

and discussants

Diamantis Panagiotopoulos (Universität Heidelberg, Klass. Archäologie)

Thomas Meier (Universität Heidelberg, Ur- und Frühgeschichte)

Nikolaus Dietrich (Universität Heidelberg, Klass. Archäologie)

Friday, April 29, 2016

Hörsaal 4a, Neue Universität (Universitätsplatz), Heidelberg

9:00-9:30      New Developments in Chinese Prehistory (Lothar von Falkenhausen)
Based in part on ongoing fieldwork at Yangguanzhai, discusses the importance of newly discovered super-size settlements from the fourth millennium BC, and about indications that a somewhat uniform élite material culture (presumably reflecting shared religious ideas) already extended during that time over a region that encompassed a number of archaeological cultures.  This revises the previous consensus, according to which such tendencies toward cultural uniformity only began during the third millennium BC.  The importance of new dating techniques in helping archaeologists come to this realization will also be discussed.

9:30-9:50      Response & Discussion

9:50-10:00    Break

10:00-10:30 The Early Chinese Dynasties: Archaeology and Text (Lothar von Falkenhausen)

                     Taking the two ritual reforms during the first millennium as examples, discusses how archaeology can independently reveal important historical events of which transmitted historical texts have not preserved any traces.  Also talks about the expansion of the scope of writing from the exclusively ritual to the quotidian sphere.

10:30-10:50 Response (by Diamantis Panagiotopoulos) & Discussion

10:50-11:00 Break

11:00-11:30 Funeral Archaeology: Looking at the Early Empire Through the Lense of Death (Enno Giele)

                     Reflects upon the effects of the dominance of tomb excavations in the archaeology of the Han period.

11:30-11:50 Response (by Thomas Meier) & Discussion

11:50-13:00 Lunch break

13:00-13:30 Archaeology of Art (meishu kaogu), Xia Nai, Xiang Da and 1940s Perspectives on ‘Xiongnu Culture' (Sarah E. Fraser)

13:30-13:50 Response (by Nikolaus Dietrich) & Discussion

13:50-14:00 Break

14:00-14:30 Remarks on the History of Chinese Archaeology (Lothar von Falkenhausen)

                     Mainly discusses ongoing shifts in the interpretation of archaeological material; from a simplistically “China”-focused approach to one in which trans-Eurasiatic connections and intercultural comparisons are becoming increasingly important.  Also offers some reflections on the role of international collaboration in Chinese archaeology.

14:30-15:00 Response, Discussion & Wrap-up