Diffusion, Communication, and Competition in Prehistoric Chinese Agriculture

In recent years, no term has received more spotlight than the “Belt and Road,” a contemporary developmental concept rooted in the land-based Silk Road and the maritime trade route in ancient Chinese history. Interestingly, it has also influenced prehistoric archaeology. I can’t help but think of what Croce said, “All history is contemporary history.” The archaeology of East–West exchange has become the fourth major issue in Chinese archaeology (it is customary to regard the origin of humans, agriculture, and civilization as the three major archaeological issues).