Staff profile

My research focuses on Neolithic archaeology in the Middle Yangtze River region of China, examining pottery production, distribution, and use within the broader context of emerging social complexity, with particular emphasis on the Shijiahe site complex. I plan to integrate petrographic analysis to investigate raw material procurement, technological choices, and manufacturing sequences. By combining ceramic petrography with contextual interpretation, I aim to fill gaps in the technological and social dimensions of ceramic production during the Middle Yangtze Neolithic and to clarify how craft specialisation intersects with processes of social complexity.

I first developed an interest in pottery analysis during my undergraduate studies, where I worked with primary archaeological datasets to classify pottery from the Yinxintai site. This foundational work introduced me to typology, ceramic technology, and interpretive frameworks for understanding craft production. During my master’s degree, I continued to explore Neolithic pottery traditions by studying the assemblages from the Xiaojiawuji site, refining my analytical skills and deepening my understanding of regional cultural variation. After completing my master’s, I collaborated with Dr Anke Hein at the University of Oxford on a project investigating red pottery cups from the Sanfangwan site. This research classified different types of these red pottery cup and their impact on the development of social hierarchy in late Neolithic communities.

Education

BA(Hons) Archaeology, Van Mildert College, Durham University (2020-2023)

MA Archaeology, UCL(2023-2024)

Independent Researcher, University of Oxford (2025.01-2025.09)

• Neolithic Period; Pottery Analysis; East Asia; Petrography; Social Complexity