Building on written texts: anthropological and archaeometeric approaches to ‘post-Qin’ archaeology in China

Since the start of the 21st century technology has advanced rapidly. Similarly, archaeometry (科技考古), the application of the physical, biological and computer sciences to archaeology, has also grown and evolved significantly. However, despite significant financial investment the adoption of archaeometry within Chinese archaeology has been uneven. Despite a notable increase in anthropological approaches and archaeometric analysis in pre-Qin (prior to 221 BCE, namely the Neolithic and Bronze Ages) archaeology in China, studies relating to the post-Qin (221 – 1644 CE) period of Chinese history are still largely focused on the social centres, specifically capital cities (Xi’an, Luoyang, Beijing)  and elite tombs, with historical texts being used to prove the validity of archaeological discoveries rather than vice versa. This presentation first explores potential reasons for the current relative absence of archaeometric research in post-Qin contexts before continuing to examine how anthropological and archaeometric data might be applied more beneficially in post-Qin contexts in China.