The Archaeology Webinar Series

Deconstructing “Clan Cemeteries”: Theoretical and Methodological Reflections on Late Shang Mortuary Archaeology

2025-04-09 09:002025-04-09 10:30Asia/Hong_KongDeconstructing “Clan Cemeteries”: Theoretical and Methodological Reflections on Late Shang Mortuary Archaeology

Title:

Deconstructing “Clan Cemeteries”: Theoretical and Methodological Reflections on Late Shang Mortuary Archaeology

Speaker:

Yuwei Zhou

PhD Candidate, Department of East Asian Languages and Civilizations, University of Chicago

 

Date/Time:

April 9, 2025 (Wed) 09:00 – 10:30 HKT

Venue:

Room 201, May Hall, The University of Hong Kong (Map), or Online via Zoom | Register now

Language:

English

Enquiry:

ihss@hku.hk

    2025-04-09 09:002025-04-09 10:30Asia/Hong_KongDeconstructing “Clan Cemeteries”: Theoretical and Methodological Reflections on Late Shang Mortuary Archaeology

    Title:

    Deconstructing “Clan Cemeteries”: Theoretical and Methodological Reflections on Late Shang Mortuary Archaeology

    Speaker:

    Yuwei Zhou

    PhD Candidate, Department of East Asian Languages and Civilizations, University of Chicago

     

    Date/Time:

    April 9, 2025 (Wed) 09:00 – 10:30 HKT

    Venue:

    Room 201, May Hall, The University of Hong Kong (Map), or Online via Zoom | Register now

    Language:

    English

    Enquiry:

    ihss@hku.hk

      Overview

      Title:

      Deconstructing “Clan Cemeteries”: Theoretical and Methodological Reflections on Late Shang Mortuary Archaeology

      Speaker:

      Yuwei Zhou (PhD Candidate, Department of East Asian Languages and Civilizations, University of Chicago)

      Date/Time:

      April 9, 2025 (Wed) 09:00 – 10:30 HKT

      Venue:

      Via Zoom

      Language:

      English

      Enquiry:

      Title:

      Deconstructing “Clan Cemeteries”: Theoretical and Methodological Reflections on Late Shang Mortuary Archaeology

      Speaker:

      Yuwei Zhou (PhD Candidate, Department of East Asian Languages and Civilizations, University of Chicago)

      Date/Time:

      April 9, 2025 (Wed) 09:00 – 10:30 HKT

      Venue:

      Via Zoom

      Language:

      English

      Enquiry:

      Abstract

      Initially excavated in 1928 as China’s first archaeological investigation, the Bronze Age settlement of Anyang in Henan province remains one of the most significant discoveries in Chinese archaeology. In 1979, a report on the Western Locus cemetery established an influential paradigm for late Shang mortuary studies: tomb grouping (muzang fenqu 墓葬分區), a method that divides cemeteries into spatial clusters to infer clan structures. This approach was quickly adopted in analyses of cemeteries within and beyond Anyang, reinforcing a widespread interpretation of clan-based social organization. Today, despite some skepticism, this view remains deeply embedded in narratives of Shang archaeology.

      This study critically re-examines the term “clan cemetery” by tracing its scholarly origins and reassessing its methodological basis through computational analysis. As recent excavations reveal increasing variability in archaeological data that challenges the clan-based model, this study draws on anthropological theories to propose a new understanding of Anyang mortuary dynamics within an urban context.

       

      About the Series

      The Archaeology Webinar Series aims to provide a platform for scholars, students, and enthusiasts to discuss and share knowledge about archaeology, its importance, recent discoveries, research methods, and its significance in understanding the past. The series aims to promote awareness, education, and appreciation for archaeology among academia and the general public and foster a sense of curiosity and interest in exploring our shared human history.

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