East and Central Asian archaeology, heritage, and long-distance maritime exchange
Key Questions
What ancient remains lie beneath modern Taipei?
Fossilized shell mounds dating to prehistoric periods have been identified under the city streets. They reveal long-term human occupation and resource use in the region.
How do recent finds link Iron Age Thailand to Indian networks?
A dig in western Thailand uncovered 2,000-year-old gold rings bearing Brahmi inscriptions. These artifacts demonstrate early cultural and trade connections with India.
What ongoing research is reshaping views of ancient East Asian trade?
Studies include aDNA linking the Bo people to hanging coffins, submerged Silk Road sites, and isotopic analysis challenging millet-centric diet narratives. Jingdezhen's 2,000-year ceramic history is also being overviewed.
Asian underwater research includes renewed searches at Poompuhar using sonar, echosounders, diving, and shoreline reconstruction. The submerged Silk Road city beneath Lake Issyk-Kul and the Sinan Shipwreck remain important cases for disaster history, conservation, dating, and trade networks, while the inscribed Goryeo–Joseon bronze firearm adds an East Asian technology case with unresolved dating. Damage to a Ming-era Great Wall section after mining activity highlights continuing weaknesses in heritage oversight and enforcement.