ICCHA Special Guest Lecture 2019: Rethinking of Bronze Age on the Eastern Rim of the Tibetan Plateau

Kazuo Miyamoto (Kyushu University, Japan) will give the ICCHA Special Guest Lecture 2019 at the UCL Institute of Archaeology on 18 January.

Abstract

This presentation resolves the question of the dating and chronology of stone cist graves containing bronze artefacts in the Southwest China, according to the results of Sino-Japanese joint excavations conducted on stone cist graves in Sichuan Province, China between 2008 and 2010. It is furthermore argued that the emergence of bronzes in this area might be connected with bronzes from Northwest China, suggesting that the Model of the Crescent Exchange Belt would need to be modified significantly. It would also be suggested that the bronzes in this area were individually developed.

Speaker

Professor Miyamoto is a leading researcher and archaeologist in the field of East Asian Archaeology. His research focuses on the comparative study of state formation process in East Asia, as well as the origin of bronzes in China and the spread of early agriculture in North-Eastern Asia. He is also involved in research on the cultural interaction of prehistoric times between southern Korea and northern Kyushu of Japan through the excavations at Iki or Tsushim Island. He has conducted fieldwork in various parts of China, Mongolia, the Russian Far East, and Japan. Between 2008 and 2010, he led a Sino-Japanese joint excavation project concentrating on the stone-cist graves on the eastern rim of the Tibetan Plateau. At present, he is undertaking a new Mongolian-Japanese joint excavation project working on the Bronze Age stone-slab graves of Outer Mongolia.

The International Centre for Chinese Heritage and Archaeology (ICCHA), a joint association between the School for Archaeology and Museology of Peking University and the UCL Institute of Archaeology, is tasked with bringing China's cultural past to western scholars. Through its China Nights events and Guest Lecture Series, the Centre endeavours to promote all aspects of Chinese history and prehistory and strengthen academic links between China and Europe. In addition, the ICCHA regularly hosts world-class conferences, bridge the gap in archaeological thought and theory. 

Any enquiries about the event or work of the International Centre for Chinese Heritage and Archaeology (ICCHA) may be directed to the Centre Administrator, Rui Pang.