| This thesis is an archaeological investigation on the patterns and processes involved in the cultural changes on the coast of Southeast China during the Neolithic period. The Neolithic of Southeast China began with a full array of pottery, polished stone tools and bone tools around 6500 B.P., and ended with the appearance of bronzes around 3500 B.P. It can be divided into three periods. The early Neolithic (ca, 6500–5000 B.P.) people were well adapted to ocean life and involved in long distance exchange networks. During the middle period (ca. 5000–4300 B.P.), different adaptation strategies were developed. Some islanders such as the Damaoshan people became specialized fishermen, and those lived on mainland coast had domesticated animals and probably cultivated rice. Long distance exchange continued to develop, and possible cross-Taiwan Strait contacts are observed. The late period (ca. 4300–3500 B.P.) witnessed the development of rice agriculture and possible barley and wheat cultivation. Regional exchanges of stone adzes were documented.; The Neolithic people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait were proto-Austronesians. They first expanded to Taiwan around 6500–5000 B.P., and maintained regular contacts with the mainland until 3500 B.P. Their expansions were possibly motivated by multiple factors such as trades and new immigrant pressure. |
