A Review of Research on Bronze Age Archaeology of Xinjiang in Chinese Academia

Purpose. This paper categorizes the archaeological research on the Bronze Age in Xinjiang into three major phases based on the level of research and prevailing trends. By systematically examining the significant sites, key academic issues, and relevant literature and works from each phase, a coherent narrative of the development of the Bronze Age archaeological studies in Xinjiang within the Chinese academic community has been articulated. Results. Before the 1930s, the archaeology of the Bronze Age in Xinjiang was in its initial stage, during which numerous explorations and investigations were conducted by Western scholars The period from 1949 to the late 1980s represents a phase of in-depth exploration in Xinjiang’s Bronze Age archaeology. During this time, Chinese archaeologists undertook extensive field surveys and excavations, yielding a substantial collection of the Bronze Age sites and artifacts. This era also marked the beginning of discussions and research concerning the origins of the archaeological cultures and migrations of populations of the Bronze Age in Xinjiang. From the late 1980s to the present day, we have entered a new phase characterized by the discovery and investigation of a significant number of early Bronze Age sites. An increasing array of multidisciplinary methods has been employed in comprehensive studies of the Bronze Age archaeology in Xinjiang, prompting dialogues about the interactions between the archaeological cultures and populations of Xinjiang and neighboring regions. Conclusion. Through the sustained efforts of Chinese archaeologists, the archaeological cultural landscape and evolutionary patterns of the Bronze Age in the Xinjiang region have been largely unveiled. Initial clarifications regarding issues of technology, cultural exchange, and population migration during the Bronze Age in Xinjiang have also been achieved.