Archaeology in China

3 Credits · Level: Graduate, Undergraduate

From the "dragon bones" unearthed by farmers in the late 19th century to tombs uncovered during road-building projects today, archaeological discoveries continue to augment and rewrite our knowledge of Chinese history, art, religion, and society. This seminar will examine major archaeological sites in China from the Neolithic period (ca. 7000-1700 BCE) to the Tang dynasty (618-907 CE) and analyze the insights that they offer into Chinese religion and cosmology, the conceptualization of death and the afterlife, premodern technologies and art-making techniques, and more. Each week, we will focus on a specific site as well as key figures and institutions in the rise of scientific archaeology in 20th century China. Moreover, we will pay special attention to the ongoing dialogue between archaeology and narratives of national and regional identity, and issues of cultural heritage protection. For more information about this and other courses in the Department of Art and Art History, please visit https://art.georgetown.edu This course is not available to audit.