Peking Man’s Place in Public Representations of Palaeolithic Archaeology

Clicks: 3
ID: 321993
2026
Free PDF
Article Quality & Performance Metrics
Overall Quality
Not rated
Combines reader engagement with the AI quality analysis. This article has not been analysed, so there is no overall score — reader engagement is measured and shown alongside.
AI Quality Assessment
Not analyzed
Readership in this journal
Emerging

Ranked #153 of 1,517 articles by views in Oxford University Press eBooks

Most read Least read

Bar heights use a square-root scale. Only the 120 most-read articles are drawn; the journal has 1,517 in total.

Mint this article as an NFT
Not yet minted

Create a permanent, verifiable on-chain record of this article on the Scimatic Network. The NFT is held in your Journament account, and you can withdraw it to your own wallet at any time.

5 SUSD one-off · no wallet required
Sign in to mint
Abstract
Abstract This chapter investigates the role and evolution of Peking Man in public representations of Palaeolithic archaeology, particularly through the lens of museum exhibitions. By examining three distinct phases of palaeoanthropology in China—the discovery of the Zhoukoudian site in 1921, the Mao era, and Reform and Opening in the 1980s—the chapter explores how representations of Peking Man have been shaped by scientific, cultural, and political shifts. While the initial developmental phase centred on significant fossil discoveries and international collaboration, bolstering the idea of Asia as a potential birthplace of humanity, the Mao era saw Peking Man integrated into Marxist narratives, emphasising communal labour and making Peking Man a symbol of Chinese unity and antiquity. The third phase marked a re-engagement with the international scientific community, reinforcing China’s place in global paleoanthropological debates and challenging previous interpretations of Peking Man. The chapter then examines Peking Man’s current role in public representations of Palaeolithic archaeology, with a focus on the Zhoukoudian Site Museum. Current trends suggest the onset of a fourth phase, characterised by a gradual diminishment of Peking Man’s status. This argument is supported by a brief analysis of Peking Man’s portrayal in other Chinese exhibitions. Ultimately, this chapter contends that the evolving portrayal of Peking Man reflects broader changes in Chinese society and its relationship with its ancient past, providing insight into the interplay of archaeology, nationalism, and public history.
Reference Key
openalex_W7170048249 Use this key to autocite in the manuscript while using SciMatic Manuscript Manager or Thesis Manager
Authors Lena Wesemann
Journal Oxford University Press eBooks
Year 2026
DOI
10.1093/oxfordhb/9780197800324.013.0044
URL
https://doi.org/10.1093/oxfordhb/9780197800324.013.0044
Keywords Keywords not found

Citations

No citations found. To add a citation, contact the admin at info@scimatic.org

Comments

No comments yet. Be the first to comment on this article.