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The history of prehistoric archaeology in Myanmar: a brief review

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Abstract

Myanmar’s (also called Burma) critical location at the juncture between South and East Asia plays a significant role in shaping the region’s cultural trajectory, particularly in terms of long-range population migrations and cultural interactions within the framework of southern China and Southeast Asia. This paper summarizes the history and practices of prehistoric archaeological research in Myanmar by collecting, sorting, and analyzing global publications from the last 150 years. We outline five significant periods in the development of research on prehistoric archaeology in Myanmar: the roots in the 1870 to 1930s; the beginnings, between the 1930 and 1950s; stagnation in the 1950s through 1970s; recovery in the 1970s through 1990s; and continuous development since the 1990s. Finally, we briefly discuss the features and hotspots of prehistoric archaeological research in Myanmar, as well as current constraints and future directions for the field.

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Funding

This research was supported by the National Social Science Fund of China (18BKG003).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of History, Wuhan University, Luojiashan, Wuchang, Wuhan, 430072, Hubei Province, China

    Xuan Wei, Tingting Liang, Myet Thwe Soe, Xiaoying Chen & Yinghua Li

  2. Archaeological Institute for Yangtze Civilization, Wuhan University, Luojiashan, Wuchang, Wuhan, 430072, Hubei Province, China

    Yinghua Li

  3. CNRS UMR 7041 ArScAn–AnTET, Université Paris X, Maison de l’Archéologie et de l’Ethnologie, 21 allée de l’Université, Nanterre, 92023, France

    Yinghua Li

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Contributions

Xuan Wei: References collecting, data analysis, writing original draft, visualization.

Tingting Liang: References collecting, data analysis.

Myet Thwe Soe: References collecting.

Xiaoying Chen: References collecting.

Yinghua Li: Conceptualization, methodology, draft review and editing, validation, supervision, funding acquisition.

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Correspondence to Yinghua Li.

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Wei, X., Liang, T., Soe, M.T. et al. The history of prehistoric archaeology in Myanmar: a brief review. asian archaeol 7, 203–219 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s41826-023-00075-3

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