The development of early Chinese civilization occupies a unique position in world history, and new archaeological discoveries from China in recent decades have made Chinese archaeology a fascinating topic for both academic circles and the general public. Nevertheless, because of the linguistic, cultural, and social obstacles that have historically existed between China and the Western world, comprehensive studies of Chinese archaeology published in English for Western readers have been lacking.

The most widely used book on Chinese archaeology in English has so far been The Archaeology of Ancient China by the late Professor Kwang-chih Chang. It covers periods from the Paleolithic to early dynasties and was continuously revised during the course of twenty-three years, published in four editions in 1963, 1967, 1977, and 1986. It is a rich sourcebook for scholars and students interested in Chinese archaeology, but its last edition was published twenty-five years ago, and much of the information available then should be updated. As former students of K.-c. Chang, we are responsible for carrying on the mission to which he devoted much of his professional life.