School of History and Museology, Nanjing Normal University et al.  ..............................4 

Brief Report on the 2021 Excavation of the Neolithic Cemetery at the Xuecheng Site, Nanjing 

Abstract：From September 2021 to January 2022, Nanjing Normal University, the Nanjing Institute of Archaeology, and the Cultural Relics Administration of Gaochun District jointly conducted an archaeological excavation at the Xuecheng site, covering an area of 150 square meters. The excavation uncovered multiple Neolithic-period features, including burials and shell-mound deposits, and yielded artifacts such as pottery and jade objects. These discoveries hold significant academic value for understanding the ecological environment, cultural characteristics, mortuary practices, and processes of social complexity in the Neolithic period of the Ningzhen region.

School of Archaeology and Cultural Heritage, Zhengzhou University & Xi’an Institute for the Preservation of Cultural Heritage and Archaeology........................16 

Brief Report on the Excavation of the Tang-Dynasty Tomb of WANG Gongkui and His Wife in the Southern Suburbs of Xi’an 

Abstract：In April 2018, the Xi’an Institute for the Preservation of Cultural Relics and Archaeology, in collaboration with the Department of Archaeology at Zhengzhou University, conducted excavations at the Miaojiazhai cemetery in Xi’an. Among the tombs uncovered, three（M611, M1052, and M1053）were of complete structure and clear dating. Based on their locations, excavated epitaphs, and human remains, it can be determined that the occupant of M611 was WANG Gongkui, who died in the 7th year of the Dahe reign （833 CE）. M1052 and M1053 constitute a joint burial of WANG Gongkui and his first wife, Lady Li of Longxi: M1053 is Lady Li’s tomb, interred in the 5th year of Dahe（831 CE）, while M1052 may represent a cenotaph（clothes-and-cap tomb）for WANG Gongkui. The interrelationship of these three tombs provides important evidence for understanding the special phenomenon of spousal joint burials in the Tang dynasty. Furthermore, WANG Gongkui’s epitaph offers new material for the study of military officials’careers and the turbulence of the regional warlord system in the mid-to-late Tang period.

SUN Zhuo.......................................26 

The Expansion and Administration of the Southern Regions by the Shang Dynasty as Reflected in Archaeological Evidence 

Abstract：Through a systematic review of archaeological remains from the Middle Yangtze region during the Shang period, this paper identifies three distinct stages of cultural interaction between the Central Plains and the southern regions. These shifts reflect the Shang dynasty’s evolving strategies in its expansion and governance of the South. During the early Shang (Erligang phase), the Shang established Panlongcheng as a regional center, forming an expansionary network and a hierarchical settlement management system in the Middle Yangtze. In the Huayuanzhuang North to Anyang Phase I period, following the abandonment of Panlongcheng, Shang regional control in the Middle Yangtze showed signs of disintegration. By the Yinxu phase, the Shang established allied noble polities of Shang affiliation to directly control areas north of the Tongbai Mountains, while also possibly exerting influence along Middle Yangtze communication routes through trade-oriented interactions. These dynamic processes correspond closely to internal structural changes within the Shang polity and illustrate the complexities of central-local relations in this period.

QIN Chaochao & CAO Jun...................................37 

The Southward Expansion of Central Plains Bronze Culture toward the Yuyue Region in the Southeast and Its Routes 

Abstract：The influence of the Central Plains Bronze Culture on the southeastern Yu Yue region was a gradual and multi-stage process. From the Xia and early Shang periods onward, the Maqiao culture in the Taihu Lake region already shows evidence of Central Plains impact. During the late Shang period, this southward expansion intensified, reflected in the growing number and variety of bronze artifacts, including the appearance of ritual vessels in the Central Plains style or their local imitations, the production of small bronze tools and weapons, and the firing of proto-porcelain vessels modeled on bronze forms. These developments suggest the transplantation of Central Plains ritual concepts into the Yu Yue region. In the Western Zhou period, Central Plains influence persisted but also underwent localization, indicating a deeper level of cultural integration. The transmission of the Central Plains Bronze Culture into Yu Yue proceeded along three main routes—northern, central, and southern—with Ningzhen, Wannan, and the borderlands of Zhejiang, Fujian, and Jiangxi serving as key transit hubs.

LI Haichao et al.  .....................................................49 

A Preliminary Study of Turquoise Inlays and Inlaid Artifacts Unearthed from the Sanxingdui Site 

Abstract：A considerable number of scattered turquoise inlays and a small quantity of turquoise-inlaid artifacts, such as bronze plaques, have been unearthed at Sanxingdui. Based on the observation and statistical study of inlays from pits K5, K6, and K7, this paper outlines the technological traits of the inlaying technique and undertakes cross-regional comparisons. The findings suggest that turquoise inlaying was practiced from the Erlitou period through the late Shang period. While the conceptual model of Sanxingdui bronze plaques derives from Erlitou prototypes, their inlay techniques, decorative motifs, and artistic expression differ significantly, reflecting strong local adaptations. In the late Shang period, Sanxingdui inlays were vertically oriented, contrasting with the oblique inlays of the Shang dynasty, indicating separate technological systems. Throughout its development, the Sanxingdui turquoise inlay system retained distinct local characteristics.

CHEN Xiang..............................................................58 

The Clans Outside the Capital and the Management of the Southern Land in the Late Shang Dynasty: Insights from Newly Excavated Material 

Abstract：Based on an analysis of the burials and grave goods from the cemetery of the Qin clan at Runlou Village, dating to the Late Shang Dynasty, this study argues that each cluster of graves corresponds to a distinct “family” within the broader clan. At the same time, evidence suggests the presence of non-kin members who were incorporated into the clan as dependents. Such a structure—organized around family units but integrating both blood relatives and dependent affiliates—likely represents a common feature of Late Shang clans. Situated on the north bank of the Huai River, the Qin clan, together with clans at Shihegang, Tianhu, and Getengshan on the river’s southern bank, formed a strategic buffer and defensive zone, closely tied to both military and transportation concerns. This pattern may reflect a broader organizational model of clans located outside the Shang capital.

XIANG Yi....................................................................68 

A Study of Prehistoric Pottery Alcohol Vessels in the Haidai Region

Abstract：Prehistoric pottery alcohol vessels from the Haidai region can be classified into five major categories based on their forms: jars and pots, gui and he vessels, gu goblets and cups, high-stemmed vessels, and irregular forms. Over the course of their development, a distinction gradually emerged between utilitarian vessels and ritual vessels. These pottery wine vessels first appeared during the Beixin culture, entered a phase of rapid development in the early and middle Dawenkou culture, and progressively diversified into different functional types for brewing, storage, and drinking. During the late Dawenkou and Longshan cultures, pottery wine vessels reached a flourishing stage, as drinking practices became increasingly complex and some vessels evolved into ritual objects. The development of pottery vessels for alcoholic beverages in the Haidai region was deeply influenced by the Central Plains in its early stages. Over time, however, it gradually formed a distinctive local style, with increasing divergence and remarkable prosperity. Among them, pottery vessels such as gui, he, and gu became representative types, and after their maturation, they exerted a significant impact on the Central Plains, contributing to the evolution of later ritual systems associated with alcohol.