A multi-year, multi-discipline project commissioned by the People's Republic of China in 1996 to determine with accuracy the location and time frame of the Xia Dynasty, the Shang Dynasty and the Zhou Dynasty. Some 200 experts took part in the project, the results of which were released in November 2000.

Methodology

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The project correlated radiocarbon dating, archaeological dating methods, historical textual analysis and used other interdisciplinary methods to achieve more accurate temporal and geographic accuracy.

Controversy

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There is some controversy over the results of the project. One of the criticisms is that is supports the concept of a 6000-year, unbroken and homogenous history of China, wherein the Three Dynasties were large and powerful states--ignoring that many other groups of people existed throughout China and Central Asia during this period. Claims that this is a nationalistic pursuit have been levied based on statements such as those made by Song Jian who, in writing about the project, expressed embarrassment that the Egyptians had a detailed history going back nearly 5000 years and the Chinese, as a people, did not.

Results

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• All four phases of Erlitou culture were part of the Xia Dynasty.

References

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1. Yun Kuen Lee, Building the chronology of early Chinese history. Asian Perspectives: the Journal of Archaeology for Asia and the Pacific 41.1 (Spring 2002): p15(28)

Chinese archaeology | Xia Dynasty | Shang Dynasty | Zhou Dynasty

夏商周年表プロジェクト | 夏商周断代工程