Jade Dragons

Jade Dragons

Jade Dragon

This teaching novel is an archaeological suspense story set in northeast China at a site that is called the Goddess Temple. Clara, protagonist of Nelson’s Spirit Bird Journey, begins work at an excavation at the Temple, only to discover the problems of contemporary looting, government meddling, and excavation interpersonal dynamics. Nelson’s story also describes the lifeways of the Neolithic people who used the temple thousands of years ago—their economy, social structure, gender relations, and religious rituals—through the eyes of a young woman living there. Written by a leading American archaeologist specializing in these topics, this volume is both a good read and good archaeology. An ideal starting point to introduce archaeology to college students.

Chinese Astroarchaeology

This book systematically examines Chinese astroarchaeology from the Neolithic period onward, aiming to reconstruct premodern knowledge systems and articulate the intellectual foundations of traditional Chinese culture. As an interdisciplinary field, Chinese astroarchaeology explores cosmological frameworks and the origins of civilization in ancient China. The book unveils the remarkable astronomical accomplishments of the ancient Chinese and investigates the interplay between science, technology, and traditional culture. It also discusses how the origins of astronomy relate to the origins of civilization itself. Drawing on archaeological excavations, ancient artifacts, and historical documents, the study integrates research methods and findings from archaeology, paleography, the study of ancient literature, ethnology, and astronomy. Taking a theoretical and practical approach, the book establishes a framework for Chinese astroarchaeology, opening new avenues for studying the origins of Chinese civilization and providing insights into ancient Chinese political, religious, philosophical, and scientific history. The book will appeal to scholars and students of ancient Chinese history, the history of science, archaeology, astroarchaeology, art history, and cultural heritage studies.