Book Reviews

BOOK REVIEWS

The Archaeology of Pouerua. Douglas Sutton, Louise Furey, and Yvonne Marshall. Auckland: Auckland University Press, 2003. 262 pp., figures, tables, index, NZ$49.99. ISBN 1869402928.

Reviewed by IAN BARBER, University of Otago

During the 1980s, the volcanic landscape tive trench and large area excavations. incorporating the modified cone known as Given the ambitious nature of this project, Pouerua in the inland Bay of Islands, New it is no surprise to learn that "the complex Zealand, was the subject of a large-scale ar ity of the excavations and the large number chaeological investigation. The results of of stratigraphic layers identified ... made this work have been reported and inter analysis and interpretation difficult" and preted in university theses, several pub that a form of the Harris matrix was lished papers, and three volumes. The first employed to sequence stratigraphic con two volumes as edited by project director texts (p. 29). Sutton present a series of reports on the ar The greater part of the book is taken up chaeology of undefended settlements and with the documentation and interpretation smaller pa (defended earthwork sites) of the of excavation results, including summary Pouerua area. The last volume of the proj tables of events and layers, clear line ect is under the multiple authorship ofSut drawings, some well-resolved photographs ton and two colleagues. It is a full report (chapters 5-11), an integrated cone se on the archaeology of the large, extensively quence (chapter 12), and radiocarbon results terraced and defended Pouerua cone itself (chapter 13). The focus of these chapters is and has been long awaited in New Zealand on identified "events" that are separated archaeology. out for description, labeled, and related by This publication is without question one stratigraphy (where possible) for and be of the most important archaeological re tween several discrete excavation areas. The search statements on New Zealand pa. investigation units include the elevated, Chapter 1 begins with a critique of pa constructed parts of the rim (tihi), defensive scholarship that sets out the fundamental ditches and scarps, and separated terraces assumptions of the volume. The authors and terrace clusters from the upper to the imply that earlier views ofpa as period arti lower parts of the cone. This has resulted facts or settlement types are inappropriate in a detailed excavation report focused on for the investigation of a complex sociopo excavated soils, layers, features, and objects. litical site such as Pouerua. Chapters 1 The detail is a little overwhelming in through 3 propose that the only way to ad places, where the reader may need to refer vance our understanding of a place like back to the helpful summary overview of Pouerua is to identify in fine stratigraphic chapter 4 (intended to "help make the detail examples of the many events of the complex excavation data more accessible," site's history. This is achieved through ex p. 30). Even so, the writing is generally tensive survey and a combination of selec- clear and straightforward and the report co-

Asian Pcrspca;llcs, VoL 46, No. I © 2007 by the University of Haw;lj'j Press. 234 ASIAN PERSPECTIVES . 46(1) . SPRING 2007 herent. By the time one reaches the discus edging the current consensus of a shorter sion of the form of the cone and its chang Maori archaeological sequence c. 800 years ing use over time in chapters 14 and 15, old). the major identified events and features at The only real quibble I have concerns least are familiar, and their interpretation is the commendable expectation raised in generally satisfactory. chapter 1 that Pouerua is to be considered The careful description and sequence of in the context of "archaeological, ecolog construction events supports a compelling ical, economic and socio-political contexts" and somewhat surprising conclusion about (pp. 9-10). In this regard, it is acknowl Pouerua's complex history. The cone is edged that Pouerua cone is at the center of interpreted as a place of defended and a "vast horticultural landscape," where "it undefended uses that changed over time, would never be possible to understand the where the most considerable settlement nature of settlement ... without also un activities occurred before and after the derstanding the nature of horticulture on time of its strongest and most conspicuous the surrounding lava field" (p. 10). Indeed, fortification. In short, when the greatest some of the adjacent stone field walls and number of people were living on or using rows begin on the cone's lower slopes (p. Pouerua most intensively, the cone itself 18). The discussion of this larger horticul was only lightly defended at best. This is tural landscape is brief, however (primarily an important contribution to our under on pp. 18 and 19 respectively, with refer standing ofpa as sociopolitical monuments. ence to short published descriptions only), "People were not cowering in defended while the suggestions of terrace gardening settlements up on the Pouerua cone," the on the cone (pp. 158, 164) are not ex authors contend: They were instead "ad plored further or related to the greater vertising their presence, wealth and situa area and sequence. It is unclear also why tion ... in a highly visible, even command the intriguing "possibility" of early terrace ing, manner" (p. 233). In conclusion, the gardening (p. 181) is raised when evidence authors interpret Pouerua and by compari of garden soils is conspicuously absent from son other pa as places that combined "cere these excavated features (pp. 172, 181). It is monial, symbolic and defensive purposes" to be hoped that the important archaeologi (p. 237). cal evidence of crop production at Pouerua The difficult task of presenting and cor can be presented more fully at some stage. relating the complex excavation results is The volume, in short, is an admirable handled well overall. As one might expect example of a thoroughly presented excava with shared rather than multiple edited au tion report for a complex earthworks site. thorship, the Pouerua volume presents a It offers a stimulating interpretation that more coherent interpretation than the ear joins a number of calls in New Zealand ar lier monographs of the project. There is chaeology to reconsider pa as places with some repetition of detail through the data complex histories and uses, where defen and interpretation chapters, but in general sive purposes are part of the picture only. the complexities of the stratigraphic rela Some readers of this journal may be less tionships justify ongoing reminders and ref convinced by the discussion that considers erence points. Radiocarbon data are pre pa and other monumental Pacific earth sented fully and calibrated and interpreted work sites in relation to stone religious carefully. Suggestions for the very early architecture in Polynesia (pp. 234-237). construction and sustained use of a pit from In my view, the record of multiple con the smaller Haratua's Pa of the Pouerua structed open spaces and bounded areas of area in the 1993 monograph are referenced variable form and size over the huge obliquely and not advocated otherwise in Pouerua cone justifies the comparison and this volume, while a reported radiocarbon helps to relate the too-often marginalized error from the 1993 publication is also cor archaeology of New Zealand to its larger rected (pp. 198, 22; see also p. 1 acknowl- Pacific context. BOOK REVIEWS 235

Archaeology and Culture in Southeast Asia: Unraveling the Nusantao. Wilhelm G. Sol heim II, with contributions from David Bulbeck and Ambika Flavel. Foreword by Victor Paz. Quezon City: University of the Philippines Press, 2006. 316 pp. + xvi, illustrations, maps. ISBN 9715425089.

Reviewed by JOHN A. PETERSON, Carcia and Associates, Kailua, Hawai'i

Bill Solheim founded this journal, Asian sense, this volume presents the history of Perspectives, which first appeared in 1957. an idea as well as the fieldwork and analyses For over 50 years he has been a leader and that Solheim has done over the past half contributor to Southeast Asian archaeolog century. Unraveling the Nusantao is at the ical studies. He has been prolific, and his same time a recounting of the data, a histo work has been foundational for studies in riography of the concept, a personal intel the region. He has recently revised and lectual biography, and also a vision of a vi republished his Archaeology of the Central brant maritime culture that has inhabited Philippines: A Study Chiif/y of the Iron Age the region since the Late Paleolithic. It is a and Its Relationships (Solheim 2002) as well compelling argument for his model of dis as updated earlier reports in "Archaeolog persive and expansive settlement in South ical Survey in Papua, Halmahera, and Ter east Asia. nate, Indonesia" (chapter 6 in this volume The concept has evolved considerably under review). He also recently revisited from its earliest presentations as a Neolithic ceramic collections in the Sarawak Mu era "Nusantao" culture, and this volume seum from the Gua Sirah project, which he reflects not only the emergence of data but is currently preparing for publication. In also an emerging and quite sophisticated other words, Solheim has been vigorous model of migration. The theme is central and productive since his "retirement" from to theory and interpretations of migration teaching in 1991 from the Department of throughout the region and is currently Anthropology at the University of Hawai'i. controversial in its opposition to models He is currently on the faculty of the Ar that focus on Taiwan as the fulcrum of chaeological Studies Program at the Uni Austronesian Neolithic period diffusion. versity of the Philippines in Diliman. The Solheim examines this alternate model and festschrift Southeast Asian Archaeology was compares it unfavorably to the data, as well published in 2005 in his honor by his col as to his own theory. leagues and former students, and it includes Solheim himself eschews the term articles from throughout Mainland and Is "theory," as he has long been skeptical of land Southeast Asia-the latter a neologism fads and fashions, old wine in new skins, or that he helped coin. revisionistic explanations. In contrast, Sol This book on the Nusantao is a consum heim remains close to his experience of the mate review by Solheim of his life's work archaeological landscapes of the region, to in the region. It is written in a fresh and the data, and to his prodigious knowledge sometimes conversational style, with an eye of artifacts, sites, and collections in his illu not only toward reviewing his previous mination of a powerful and resilient model work, but also accommodating recent find for settlement and migration. He presents ings and literature. Solheim takes advantage the ethnographic, ethnohistorical, and lin of hindsight to revise a few earlier miscon guistic as well as archaeological bases for his ceptions or misstatements, and he also takes theory. the opportunity to frame his vision of mi The book is divided into seven chapters, gration in the region in light of a current with two contributions regarding the anal controversy of contending models. In this yses of his Sa Huynh-Kalanay ceramic tra-

As;nll Pcrspcaillcs, Vol. 46, No.1 © 2007 by the University of Hawai'j Press. 236 ASIAN PERSPECTIVES . 46(1) . SPRING 2007 dition that he had first proposed in 1952 distances very quickly and can drop off for the central Philippines as the Kalanay nodes of settlement and revisit them tradition. He later expanded the concept throughout the region on very short no into a panregional tradition where ceramic tice. Further, the nature of trading shifts in styles from the Sa Huynh site in Vietnam the maritime field from terrestrial or trans were interpreted as genetically related to humant patterns to "down the line trading" the Kalanay, with stylistic flow occurring that itself contributes to the pulsative and over probably a very short period of dispersive character of mobility rather than time during the Neolithic and evolving linear or unidirectional migration. Solheim throughout the early Iron Age in the re comments wryly that this kind of exchange gion. David Bulbeck and Ambika Flavel "has been termed smuggling when it have contributed appendices to this volume involves trade over national boundaries" that statistically support Solheim's earlier (p. 154), and in that phrase he captures stylistic lumpings. Another brief section, an much of the difference between Western account of survey results from Papua, Hal and regional perceptions of space, time, mahera, and Ternate, Indonesia, is also and relationships. To the West, the region appended to the Nusantao volume as chap is awash in corruption. Locally, power ter 6. This chapter adds more detail from flows are perceived as horizontal and in a the region regarding artifacts and sites but web of kin networks, not through hierar is somewhat tangential to the main thrust chical and linear systems. One man's graft of the volume. is another's habitus. In Chapter 1, Solheim lays out the In chapter 2, Solheim lays out the case Nusantao model as a maritime communica that he had previously identified as a Neo tion and trade network that provided the lithic phenomenon, which actually had its frame for regional migration as well as ex roots in the Palaeolithic settlement of the change. This model is an elegant visualiza region. He depicts artifact complexes in tion of the movement of people and Korea and Japan as genetically related to resources in the region as known from the Nusantao and links them all to the contemporary, ethnographic, and ethnohis Hoabinhian or Palaeolithic stone tool com torical accounts, as Solheim recounts in plexes found throughout the region. In chapters 4 and 5. Migration in this account chapter 3, he discusses the "four lobes" of might more reasonably be termed "geo the Nusantao Maritime Trading Network, graphical mobility," in the sense of Ralph and with this image he figuratively con Piddington (1965) or its application to the trasts his model of geographical mobility to Limau villagers of Galela in Halmahera by the linear models of migration advanced Matsuzawa (1980). Here kinship occa most notably by Peter Bellwood, among sioned nondirectional and sporadic "migra others. He presents a close reading of the tion" that could not be explained by linear literature and the data from throughout the or clinal migration models. The term region and clearly contrasts the Nusantao recognizes the tremendous fluidity of hu concept with its rather one-dimensional man movement in the region, where the alternative. Solheim, with the Nusantao maritime is field to the figure of social model, provides a mechanism as well as a agency. It is unbounded by terrestrial broader frame within which to consider resources except as temporary landing the rapid movement of people and culture zones, and these are often ephemeral point throughout a very expansive region. The references in a very expansive seascape. Nusantao concept is more like a swarm of The system is driven more by spatial per bees than like the startled beekeeper who ceptions of dispersed maritime resources, makes a "beeline" to escape their wrath! kin networks, cyclical weather, and tides, This comparison might best clarifY the currents, and prevailing winds than by contention between the "out-of-Taiwan" "landmarks." Small groups can travel great migrationists and Nusantao proponents. BOOK REVIEWS 237

No doubt Austronesians did move from REFERENCES CITED Taiwan to Batanes and perhaps then di rectly to northern Luzon, but it is likely MATSUZAWA, K. 1980 Social organization and rites of pas that this was just one small corner of ex sage. Senri Ethnological Stt/dies 7: 345 pansive geographical mobility throughout 398. the region. Solheim was recently told that PIDDINGTON, R. an expedition to the Batanes had just 1965 Kinship and Geographical Mobility. Lei returned with a report that they had found den: E. J. Brill. red-slipped pottery and jade, two of the SOLHEIM, W. hallmarks for regional Neolithic culture. 2002 Archaeology of the Central Philippines: "Why not?" he remarked. "It's everywhere A Study Chiifty of the Iron Age and Its at that time, why not also in the Batanes?" Relationships. Quezon City, Philip pines: Archaeological Studies Pro gram, University of the Philippines Diliman.

Gender and Chinese Archaeology. Katheryn M. Linduff and Yan Sun, eds. Walnut Creek, CA: Altamira Press, 2004. 392 pp., tables, figures, index. US$39.95 paper, US$80.00 hardcover. ISBN 0759104093 (paper), 0759104085 (hardcover).

Reviewed by ELIZABETH M. BRUMFIEL, Northwestern University

Gender and Chinese Archaeology presents an including family organization and the status introduction and 11 original studies that of women. True, Chinese researchers draw upon already published data. The accepted as given Engels' (1972 [1884]) authors are professors and graduate students model of social evolution from matriarchy of art history, Asian studies, anthropology, to patriarchy, accompanied by a decline in and history at the University of Pittsburgh. the status of women. And they also Their studies cover a 3500-year span, from accepted that women throughout the ages the Neolithic Majiayao culture of north were confined to the domestic sphere due western China to the Shang, Zhou, and to their biologically imposed roles in repro Han dynasties. Most of the chapters exam duction and child rearing. But within these ine mortuary data, and most are concerned limiting assumptions, debates could and did with the relative status of women and men occur among Chinese archaeologists con and the sources of their equal or unequal cerning the classification of particular cul status. I approached Gender and Chinese tures as matriarchal or patriarchal, the re Archaeology with great interest, curious to construction of marriage systems, and the know whether the engendered archaeology effects of different gendered divisions of of an unfamiliar region from a non labor and property regimes on the status of Western point of view would yield new women. This led in turn to methodological and challenging insights. I came away discussions of using archaeological house somewhat disappointed-but also impressed plans, burial practices, and ethnographic by the potential of these scholars and their analogy to reconstruct ancient gender sys data. tems. Although Marxists presented stereo As Gideon Shelach explains in his intro typed models of gender in ancient societies, ductory chapter, the Marxist foundations they did produce relevant data and they did of the People's Republic of China during envision ancient societies that were signifi the 1960s through the 1980s encouraged cantly different from those recorded in his the study of ancient social structure, torical documents.

With liberalization during the 1990s, explanation for this difference, and they do Marxist approaches in Chinese archaeology not discuss the possible consequences of were superseded by a nationalistic program this difference for gender relations outside that sought to recover the deep historical of burial practices. roots of Chinese culture. This nationalist Looking at double burials, Sun and Yang program has tended to diminish the power observe a change from the Majiayao pe of archaeology as an independent source of riod, when both burials were given equal knowledge about the past because it pro treatment, to the Qijia period, when males jects onto prehistoric data the social and were placed in coffins and females were not cultural institutions recorded in Chinese or a male was buried in an extended posi historical texts. The nationalistic program tion with an associated female in a flexed has produced less work on gender and a position facing him. Sun and Yang con less careful formulation and testing of clude that the earlier culture took a sym hypotheses about ancient gender systems. metrical approach toward gender, treating This volume, then, might have provided a males and females similarly. In contrast, the timely return to the topic of gender, draw Qijia culture was characterized by male ing on the strengths of earlier Marxist re dominance and female subordination. search and introducing new theoretical The large number of burials analyzed in approaches of the scholars' own design or this study and the care in delineating burial from outside sources. For the most part, patterns for women and men are admirable. this has not happened. While the 11 case On the other hand, the interpretations studies presented in this volume are data seem a little naive: Is privileged treatment rich, the analyses sometimes draw conclu in burial a reliable indicator of matrilineal sions prematurely and at other times fail to or patrilineal descent? Is patriarchy a uni explore the full implications of their find tary phenomenon? In other areas of the mgs. world, archaeologists have developed var Examining Majiayao culture (3300-2000 ious indices of gender equality and inequal B.C.E.), Yan Sun and Hongyu Yang ask: ity, and they recognize that these different Did this Neolithic culture evolve from indices do not always coincide. For exam a matrilineal society to a patrilineal/ ple, Crown and Fish (1996) found that patriarchal society with parallel increases in high-status women in Hohokam society gender and social inequality? And were were advantaged in some ways (e.g., they these trends intensified during the subse had access to high-prestige spaces at the quent Qijia culture (2200-1700 B.C.E.) tops of mounds) but disadvantaged in other with the emergence of metallurgy? They ways (e.g., their personal autonomy was examine 397 tombs from ten Majiayao and limited by walls enclosing high-prestige Qijia cemeteries. Looking at the relation domestic space). Rather than characterizing ship between tools and sex in single burials, an entire society as matriarchal or patriar they find two patterns. In half of the ceme chal, archaeologists outside of China have teries, there is no consistent association of begun to investigate the various dimensions tool types with sex, either because no tools of women's and men's well-being and to are present or because tools are the same define what is gained and what is lost at for female and male burials. In the other each step of social change. cemeteries, some tools (stone chisels, adzes, Jui-man Wu examines Late Neolithic knives, awls, arrowheads, and axes) are burials at Dadianzi in the Inner Mongolia mainly associated with males and some Autonomous Region. She differentiates tools (spindle whorls) are associated with between grave goods placed within tomb females. Sun and Yang conclude that these niches (said to reflect social status) and two patterns show different attitudes to grave goods placed in the coffin (said to re ward gender, with some groups playing flect personal identity). Gender-associated down gender differences and some groups differences occur in both sets of grave choosing to highlight them. They offer no goods. Eleven graves are defined as elite BOOK REVIEWS 239

because they contained rich burial goods and power? Again, the former interpreta and are located in close proximity to each tion seems to be favored because historical other. In terms of gender relations, Wu accounts portray Chinese court ladies as claims that "the social status of an elite fe the consorts ofpowerful kings. But the his male was closely related to that of the male torical records might be biased: For ideo buried in proximity to her" (88). logical reasons, they might underplay the This conclusion privileges male status: wealth and power exercised by women in The data might as well indicate that the royal courts and overemphasize their status status of an elite male was related to that of as the passive ornaments of male agents. the female buried in proximity to him. Wu The archaeological data suggest that some admits to deciding which females were women of the court were powerful indivi associated with which males by pairing the duals in their own right. tombs in such a way that large, richly Yu Jiang examines 21 Western Zhou endowed graves containing females were tombs at Baoji. Bone preservation in the matched with even larger and more richly tombs was poor, but the gender of the endowed graves containing males. But tombs' occupants was identified by inscrip what if the large, richly endowed female tions on bronze vessels. In one case, the graves were associated with less impressive second of a double burial was identified by male burials? And even if the associations the bronze inscriptions as "er" (i.e., "the that Wu proposes are correct, couldn't son"); however, the excavators decided well-endowed females be associated with that this burial belonged to a concubine well-endowed males because of the assets because it was a part of a double burial, that the females brought to the association? and it was accompanied by 24 hairpins but Ying Wang examines the rich tombs of lacked horse trappings and bronze weapons four ladies at Anyang. Lady Jing was the and tools. Jiang provides no account of highest ranking female, the only woman to how a bronze inscribed to "er" found its have a tomb with ceremonial ramps. Her way into a concubine's tomb. This seems tomb also contained a heavy bronze vessel, like a classic case of slighting data that do many bone arrowheads and sacrificial vic not fit preexisting ideas about who tims. Lady Hao's tomb had bronzes com received double burial in ancient China memorating her important family, and and what the proper contents of a male oracle bones recorded her military achieve grave ought to have been. ments. The woman in Tomb 18 has small Tsui-mei Huang shows great inventive inscribed bronzes and elaborate hairpins. ness in using the contents of female and And finally, a woman in the king's tomb, male tombs to gauge the autonomy of the believed to be a sacrificial victim, was asso Jin state. She analyzes changes in bronze ciated with the most elaborate headdress and jade artifacts from female and male found in Anyang and other body orna tombs in three Jin state cemeteries in early ments. Lady Jing and Lady Hao are both and late Zhou times. In early Zhou times, named in the ritual calendar and thus were men were buried with bronze vessels and regarded as ancestors and the objects of bronze weapons and women were buried offerings from royal descendents. How with ceramic vessels and jade ornaments. ever, the tomb of Lady Hao contained By late Zhou times, both men and women 499 carved bone hairpins, 28 jade hairpins, were buried with bronze ritual vessels, and 33 other jade ornaments, and many of the ornamental jades were placed in both male 50 ritual bronze objects in the tomb were and female graves. Since these patterns do wrapped with luxurious silks. Wang con not conform to the jade regulations for cludes, "Fashion must have played an im men and women listed in the Zhou Li portant role in the gendered ritual perfor (Book of Rites), Huang concludes that mance of elite women" (112). Yet, was Zhou regulations did not apply to the state this the display of a "trophy wife" or was ofJin and that the Jin state exercised a de this a display of Lady Hao's own wealth gree of autonomy. ASIAN PERSPECTIVES . 46(1) . SPRING 2007

Ying Yong analyzes 19 elite joint burials wealth and age was different for males in Jin cemeteries to see if the status of elite and females. I wonder whether the male: women equaled that of their husbands. In achievement female:ascription conclusion the tenth century B.C.E., the status of was accepted on such slender evidence women was relatively high, and Zhou because it conformed to the male:active ritual regulations were not fully in effect. female:passive stereotype that pervades Women were not regularly buried to the Western culture and, I suspect, Chinese west of their husbands, they had more culture as well. bronze than later women, and they were Wu observes that the possible presence sometimes buried with small chariots. In of agriculturalists and pastoralists in a single the ninth century, men had fewer chariots cemetery challenges "the dichotomous and women had none, and both men and worldview in traditional Chinese literature women were accompanied by fewer bronze that sees the pastoral nomads in the north vessels. In the early eighth century, the and the agricultural peasants in the south" tombs of two women were larger than (231-232). Thus, Wu favors using archaeo those of their husbands, but the number logical data as an independent source of of bronze vessels continued to decline for information about the past and not fitting both men and women. Although bronze it to the accounts provided by historical was less plentiful, jade continuously in documents. creased from the tenth through eighth cen Jian-jing Li examines 118 graves at the turies, replacing bronze as the primary Pengyang cemetery in the northern fron indicator ofwealth and status. Women reg tier area to reconstruct gender relations and ularly had less jade then men, which is said the division of labor during the sixth to indicate their lower status and wealth. through third centuries B.C.E. Earlier multi According to Yong, the declining number ple secondary burials imply the importance of bronze vessels suggests that "Zhou ritual of kinship as an organizing principle, with regulation became more rigid." But it is women and men enjoying approximately also plausible, as Huang suggests, that Zhou equal status. Later double burials suggest ritual simply became less popular and that the importance of the individual family jade was adopted as the local measure of and male domination of females. Knives status and wealth. and arrowheads are associated with male Xiaolong Wu gauges female and male burials; needles and spindle whorls are status based upon 79 tombs at a com associated with female burials, suggesting a moners' cemetery in the fifth to third cen gendered division oflabor. However, these turies B.C.E. at Maoginggou. This cemetery tools are occasionally associated with mem yields two burial programs; W u suggests bers of the other sex, so the gendered divi that one program was used by agricultural sion of labor was not absolute. In other people and the other by pastoralists. In the areas of the world, archaeologists have con graves attributed to pastoralists, males dis sidered the possibility that the presence of played wealth through animal sacrifice, tools usually associated with females in pottery, weapons, and body ornaments. burials sexed as males-or vice versa Females displayed wealth only through ani might mark the existence of third and mal sacrifice and body ornaments. Using other genders (Hollimon 1997; Weglian the correlation of wealth with age to mea 2001). However, Li does not explore this sure achieved vs. ascribed status, Wu argues possibility. that males' wealth, which increased as a Sheri A. Lullo analyzes historical change function of age, was achieved through their in the myths and depictions of the Queen own efforts and that females' wealth, which Mother of the West during the Han dy did not correlate with age, was ascribed by nasty to show how this figure was domesti marriage. But with only one young male cated to reconcile it with Confucian ideals burial in the burial sample, it is difficult to of social structure. In early myths and support the claim that the relationship of depictions, the Queen Mother of the West BOOK REVIEWS is an awesome, fearsome, and alien de suggests that these scenes depict textile monic figure, with a leopard's tail and tiger workshops, supervised by elite women who fangs, a companion of dragons, tigers, and derived status from their roles as supervisors snakes. Over time, the Queen Mother of rather than as actual participants in the the West becomes humanized, docile, and work process. Rode further suggests that benevolent. She was paired with the King the status of women declined in Han times Father of the East, the male creator of as imported silk replaced locally produced order in the universe. This pair then served cotton textiles as status items and women's as a model for behavior desired by the Han roles in supervising textile production rulers: a balanced, ordered world with fe diminished. Rode successfully suggests the male authority controlled and domesticated. existence of dimensions of the Dian econ This analysis will contribute to broader dis omy resting on female labor not considered cussions of gender and the state (Gailey by Chiou-Pengo 1987; Joyce 2000; Silverblatt 1991). While this volume is data rich, the anal Tze-huey Chiou-Peng examines the size yses would be strengthened by greater fa and contents of male and female tombs in miliarity with the gender and archaeology the pastoral Dian society of Yunnan (350 literature from other parts of the world. 50 B.C.E.) to gauge the degree ofgender in Such familiarity would sensitize the contri equality and to establish the basis of differ butors to the pitfalls of androcentric inter ential power. The tombs are labeled female pretation and overdependence on historical or male according to their contents. Per and ethnographic sources, as well as the sonal adornments and weaving tools iden benefits of using multiple strands of evi tify female tombs; bronze weapons, imple dence in reconstructing ancient gender sys ments, plaques, and horse gear identify tems. Surely this will happen as gender male tombs. Twenty-five percent of the studies in Chinese archaeology mature. This plaques depict male horsemen; according volume is an important beginning; it lays a to Chiou-Peng, these plaques commemo substantial foundation upon which to build. rate the use ofhorses in raids or cattle, sheep, goats, women, children, and tribute pay REFERENCES CITED ments. Horse ownership and equestrian skill, Chiou-Peng claims, were important bases CILIBERTO, E., AND G. SPOTO, EDS. for male power. This interesting hypothesis 2000 Modern Analytical Methods in Art and Archaeology. New York: John Wiley rests upon limited archaeological data, but it & Sons. is certainly amenable to further testing. The CROWN, P. 1., AND S. K. FISH movement of livestock, women, and chil 1996 Gender and status in the Hohokam dren though raiding could be confirmed Pre-Classic to Classic transition. through bone chemistry studies (Price et al. American Anthropologist 98 :803-817. 1994a, 1994b; White et al. 2001, 2004), ENGELS, F. while the movement of tribute payments 1972 [1884] Origin of the Family, Private can be traced through other methods of Property, and the State. E. B. Leacock, ed. New York: International Books. chemical composition analysis of ceramics and metals (Ciliberto and Spoto 2000). GAILEY, C. W. In the concluding paper of the volume, 1987 From Kinship to Kingship: Gender Hier archy and State Formation il1 the Tongan Penny Rode balances Chiou-Peng's exam Islands. Austin: University of Texas ination of male status in Dian culture by Press. examining the bases of female power. She HOLLIMON, S. E. focuses upon carved depictions of women 1997 The third gender in native California: that appear on the lids of shell containers Two-Spirit undertakers among the found in female tombs. These scenes por Chumash and their Neighbors, in tray a dozen or so female figures engaged Women in Prehistory: North America and Mesoamerica: 173-188, ed. C. Claas in weaving, accompanied by a larger female sen and R. A. Joyce. Philadelphia: figure who does not herself weave. Rode University of Pennsylvania Press. 242 ASIAN PERSPECTIVES . 46(1) . SPRING 2007

JOYCE, R. A. WEGLIAN, E. 2000 Gender and Power in Prehispanic Meso 2001 Grave goods do not a gender make: america. Austin: University of Texas A case study from Singen am Press. Hohentwiel, Germany, in Get/der and the Archaeology of Death: 137-155, PRICE, T. D., G. GRUPE, AND P. SCHRORTER eds. B. Arnold and N. 1. Wicker. 1994a Reconstruction of migration patterns Walnut Creek, CA: Altamira Press. in the Bell Beaker period by stable strontium isotope analysis. Applied WHITE, C. D., M. W. SPENCE, F. J. LONGSTAFFE, Geochemistry 9 :413-417. H. STUART-WILLIAMS, AND K. R. LAW 1997 Geographic identities of the sacrificial PRICE, T. D., C. M. JOHNSON, A. Ezzo, H. J. J. victims from the Feathered Serpent BURTON, AND A. ERICSON J. Pyramid, Teotihuacan: Implications 1994b Residential mobility in the prehis for the nature of state power. Latin toric Southwest United States.]oumal American Antiquity 13: 217-236. ofArchaeological Science 24: 315-330. WHITE, C. D., R. STOREY, F. J. LONGSTAFFE, SILVERBLATT, 1. AND M. W. SPENCE 1991 Interpreting women in states, in Gen 2004 Immigration, assimilation, and status der at the Crossroads of Knowledge: in the ancient city of Teotihuacan: 140-171, ed. M. di Leonardo. Stable isotopic evidence from Tla Berkeley: University of California jinga 22. Latin American Antiquity Press. 15:176-198.

Earthenware in Southeast Asia: Proceedings of the Singapore Symposium on Pre-Modern Southeast Asian Earthenwares. John Miksic, ed. Singapore: Singapore University Press, 2003. Published with the assistance ofthe Southeast Asian Ceramic Society. 370 pp. + xxii, maps, tables, b/w photos, index. US$49.00, Singapore$75.00. ISBN 9971692716.

Reviewed by LAURA LEE JUNKER, University ofIllinois Chicago

This edited volume on the earthenware shared interpretive frameworks for their pottery studies by prominent scholars earthenware ceramics, Miksic rightly notes working throughout Southeast Asia is a that there has been relatively limited com very welcome addition to the Southeast munication between archaeologists work Asian archaeological literature, with John ing with earthenware remains in Southeast Miksic bringing together for the first time Asia. Miksic sees the limited dissemination work by a broad range of archaeologists of earthenware pottery studies through working in the Philippines, Indonesia, Ma publication, conferences, and other forms laysia, Thailand, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, of international collaboration as a formida Myanmar, and Assam. I believe there ble obstacle to making substantial gains in would be little disagreement between archae comparative studies between regions, not ologists working in Southeast Asia about only in terms of pottery-based regional Miksic's clearly stated rationale for publish chronological frameworks, but also in terms ing this 22-chapter compendium of work of more contextual issues such as how pot on Southeast Asian earthenware pottery. tery production is organized and techno Comparing Southeast Asia to other major logically implemented; what ceramics can cultural regions of the world, where re tell us about the migration of human gional scholars have collaborated more on groups, trade interactions, and the dissemi developing comparative chronologies and nation of widespread symbolic systems

(whether through actual colonization, so well relate to Miksic's refreshingly honest cially or politically charged exchange inter reflections on his regret that his dissertation actions, or emulative production); how and many early works on ceramics were pottery reflects aspects of social and polit not published and hence unavailable to ical relations (e.g., gender relations, kin many scholars, since I too, now "safely" groups, social ranking, factional competi tenured and in the "mid" part ofmy career, tion, political alliance); and the cultural am feeling the same regret about unpub meanings ofpottery in various past societies lished empirical work and reprioritizing (e.g., why are anthropomorphic burial jars publication plans to include more detailed found at Ayub Cave in the Philippines? descriptive writings on excavation, archae Why are certain earthenware forms used in ological survey, and artifact analysis. I burial, feasting, and other ritual contexts?). should note that linguistic barriers to com In his introduction, Miksic identifies munication between scholars working in what I also view as key factors that have the arena of Southeast Asian archaeology impacted the publication and dissemination are formidable, since we as a group may be of an empirical database on Southeast Asian one of the most linguistically diverse aca earthenware. First, he notes the difficulty of demic communities working in a "cultural finding publishing venues, specifically aca region." Furthermore, in his introduction, demic or more popular presses that will Miksic emphasizes the importance of ex publish well-illustrated (but often expen panding scholarly interactions with South sive) books that are really specific and em Asian, East Asian (Chinese, Japanese, and phasize basic data on sites or artifactual Korean), and Oceania (particularly Lapita) categories, since many presses see these specialists, given the several millennia of kinds of books as having low marketability maritime trade interactions with these and potential for profit. Secondly, he other regions, making linguistic and na emphasizes the fact that earthenware tionalistic barriers to shared scholarship studies are often eclipsed by archaeological even more formidable. Miksic also urges investigations of what are considered more archaeologists to work closely with ethno "spectacular" finds in Southeast Asia, such graphers and/or to carry out their own eth as monumental architecture, foreign porce noarchaeological research as a means of lains or beads, Buddhist or Hindu religious gaining a richer understanding of the vary statuary, and inscriptions. This primacy ing cultural milieus and historical contexts given to architectural studies and emphasis of pottery production and use. Miksic's on ceramics associated with "royal" or frank discussion of these issues should stim "elite" areas of sites rather than nonelite ulate all archaeologists working in the area households is also underlined in a paper by to find ways to be inclusive and proactive Mundardjito, Pojoh, and Ramelan on Java in getting beyond language barriers to nese ceramics (chapter 9) and a paper by fruitful collaboration with scholars with Miriam Stark on Cambodian earthenware similar research interests, to assist younger (chapter 15). I would add to this list offac scholars in finding publication venues for tors limiting comparative work on earthen both "site reports" and "theoretical" works ware in Southeast Asia the fact that the (and to see the value of both types of pub university tenure process in many countries lications), and to not relegate earthenware emphasizes the publication of cutting-edge ceramics to ubiquitous "background noise" theoretical work rather than more empiri at archaeological sites, recognizing their cally oriented aspects of research, and significant value in developing interpretive therefore professors and beginning scholars frameworks for cultural practice in the past. are discouraged from publishing "basic Miksic has assembled a truly international data" and "site reports" in favor of these range of scholars in this volume, mostly more academically splashy theoretical from Southeast Asian institutions, but some papers and books in the first decade of their from Europe, the United States, Australia, professional career in academics. I can very and New Zealand. Geographically, the 244 ASIAN PERSPECTIVES . 46(1) . SPRING 2007 papers cover many of the islands of the search in Southeast Asia, Miksic follows his Philippines and Indonesia, Malaysia, Myan introduction with two chapters written by mar, Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam, Solheim and synthesizing his views on the with an interesting paper from the western history of earthenware pottery and its study edge of this regional distribution (Assam) in the region. In a chapter entitled "South and with significant comparisons to south east Asian Earthenware Pottery and Its ern China earthenware in many papers. Spread," Solheim presents a broad regional The time range is equally broad, ranging synthesis of major discoveries and studies of from Early Neolithic sites to historic period earthenware pottery from the Neolithic sites, with some studies including ethno period through what is loosely known as graphic work with contemporary potters in the Metal Age in Southeast Asia, with a lot regions of archaeological interest. Some of good illustrations of decorated wares papers focus more narrowly on certain from various areas of the region that are time periods, a particular site or small re often grouped to demonstrate his ideas search region, a particular methodological about cultural connections and human approach to pottery analysis, and/or a migrations in different periods (particularly highly specific research problem such as the connection between the Lapita phe trade routes or production techniques, nomena, Sa-Huynh-Kalanay pottery, and while other papers provide a synthesis of the earlier Neolithic expansion of Malayo earthenware pottery finds and analyses for Polynesian speakers in Southeast Asia). He the whole time range of pottery making in also provides a very useful summary of certain areas of the region, with an em some of his evolving ideas about the mean phasis on addressing larger-scale and more ing of similarities and differences in earth generalized issues of pottery chronology enware in terms of regional chronologies and distribution. In addition to Miksic's in and population movements, particularly troductory chapter, two following chapters clarifying his notion of pottery "traditions" by Wilhelm Solheim present a more and distancing himself from earlier inter regionwide synthesis of issues related to pretations that saw him as advocating a sin earthenware analysis; the remainder of the gle wave of cultural migration through the book is largely organized according to region (his model of a Nusantao Maritime modern nationalistic boundaries. Miksic Network now emphasizes almost contin recognizes that this may not be the most uous movement by many related maritime ideal structure for encouraging noninsular peoples). In addition, Solheim recognizes ity among archaeologists ofdifferent nations the problems of relying too heavily on and for emphasizing shared research issues largely nonsecurely dated decorated sherds rather than regional foci, but the many sig in hypothesizing cultural connections, since nificant cross-cutting research themes and archaeologists such as Stephen Chia work approaches do tend to come through de ing in Sabah (chapter 13 in the volume) spite this choice of ordering the chapters have started to get HC dates showing the (and the fact that many papers are rich in same decorative elements at widely differ shared themes and insights with a broad ing time periods. Perhaps the most signifi range of other papers might have made any cant and controversial aspect of Solheim's organization by topic very difficult). In this discussion in chapter 1 is his hypothesis, review, however, after commenting on based on earthenware similarities, that Solheim's introductory chapters, I will at Southeast Asian maritime peoples may tempt to briefly review the numerous and have been responsible for the influx of new diverse additional papers by grouping them pottery designs associated with the Valdivia by shared themes and approaches rather ceramic complex of 3000-1000 B.C. of than in chapter order. coastal Ecuador, an idea that is certain to Recognizing that Wilhelm Solheim is in renew long-term debate over possible early many ways the most important progenitor Asia-America contacts. of half a century of earthenware pottery re- Solheim's second chapter (chapter 2) is BOOK REVIEWS 245 an insightful and personalized history of ways (e.g., microstylistic analysis, various how and why he became interested in materials analysis techniques such as petro earthenware pottery research. In this chap graphic analysis and scanning electron ter, Solheim emphasizes his view that ce microscope, statistical studies of regional ramic studies aimed at cultural historical re spatial distributions), guided by diverse the construction (i.e., local chronologies and oretical paradigms (including what are often then regional syntheses interpreting cul broadly labeled as culture history, cultural tural "connections") should be given pri evolutionary, or postprocessual approaches). macy in Southeast Asian archaeology, A number of the chapters in the volume arguing that an understanding of cultural present regional syntheses of both pub heritage (specifically, when and from lished and unpublished work on earthen where one's ancestors came) is of prime ware of a specific period or periods, adding concern to people of the region who are substantially to the reference base ofSouth the ultimate "consumers" of archaeology in east Asian ceramic specialists by making museums and public institutions. I don't previously inaccessible work available to a completely agree with this view, as well as broad range of scholars. Most notable are the often-stated idea among some scholars Wilfredo Ronquillo's chapter on early that more recent trends in archaeological prehistoric pottery from the Philippines theory (e.g., various forms of "processual" (chapter 3), Santoso Soegondho's chapter or "postprocessual" archaeology) implicitly reviewing the chronologies and cultural reject or devalue the use of ceramics for contexts of earthenware in 6000-1500 B.P. cultural chronologies (or what we might Indonesia (chapter 6), Kyle Latinis and Ken call "culture history"). I believe that Stark's chapter synthesizing earthenware archaeologists working in Southeast Asia researches on Maluku (chapter 8), E. E. can simultaneously use ceramics to con McKinnon's detailed presentation of the struct solid regional sequences and a com historic period earthenware from Sumatra parative database for making chronological (chapter 11), Miriam Stark's summary of correlations between sites and between earthenware sequences in Cambodia that regions, while at the same time using other have long been overshadowed by the more techniques and approaches to ceramic ana well-known monumental architecture of lysis to get at contextual questions that the Angkor state (chapter 15), Brian Vin would also be of equal interest to both cent's survey of ceramic sequences in Southeast Asians in general and other northern and central Thailand (chapter 16), archaeologists. Both local peoples and Amara Srisuchat's presentation of earthen scholars interested in cultural heritage ware discoveries at sites in southern Thai would be very interested to know that cer land spanning the prehistoric and historic tain "fancy" pedestaled earthenware might periods (chapter 17), Ruth Prior and Ian have been used for ritual pig feasts several Glover's review of recent work on earthen millennia ago in Thailand or that male ware in transitional prehistoric-historic peri warriors were habitually buried with cer ods in Vietnam (chapter 18), and MyoThant tain decorated wares as possible symbols Tyn and U Thaw Kaung's summary of re (along with other objects) of warrior pres cent research on earthenware at Buddhist tige 600 years ago in the Philippines, imbu sites and other early historic contexts in ing the observed patterns of ceramics with Myanmar (chapter 19). While many of cultural meaning and practice within a his these chapters also make very significant torical context. The papers in this issue contributions to our understanding of the well illustrate that Southeast Asian archae changing social and cultural contexts of ologists have begun to successfully attack a pottery manufacture and use in their re multiplicity of research questions with the gions (see below), they certainly meet abundant earthenware ceramics found at Solheim's call for the type of comparative most Neolithic and later sites by docu analysis of form and style necessary to begin menting ceramic variation in a variety of to construct regional chronologies and a ASIAN PERSPECTIVES . 46(1) . SPRING 2007

framework for regional "culture history." social significance of ritual feasting in pre Miksic, the authors, and Singapore Univer historic societies of the region (also a focus sity Press are also to be commended in ofLatinis and Stark's interpretation of Mal their inclusion of numerous excellent uku pottery stoves in chapter 8). However, drawings and photographs of earthenware both Santoso Soegondho (chapter 6) and in the various chapters, allowing this book Mundardjito and colleagues (chapter 9) to function as a true "reference" work in point out that we may be seeing only the laboratories of Southeast Asian archae limited contexts for social and political ologists working with earthenware cer action in early Southeast Asian societies, amics. I should also note that most of the since most archaeological work with cer maps of different regions of Southeast Asia amics is still from burial sites and other and relevant archaeological sites in the vol "ceremonial" contexts or from "elite" ume chapters were produced in a uniform associated architecture. They echo the format, with the same fonts, map symbols, concerns of Miksic, Stark, and others that and conventions, which facilitates compari archaeologists need to turn their attention sons ofsite locations within the region. more to gaining an understanding of earth A good number of the chapters enware production and use in a household particularly those focused on specific re context. search problems in more narrow time peri Several of the chapters, in addressing ods and geographic areas-address the theoretical questions such as long-term pat long-term and always significant issue of terns ofpopulation interaction, production, maritime trade and forms of social interac and exchange in the region, show the ef tion in Southeast Asia, as reflected in earth fectiveness of innovative methodologies enware ceramics. While I cannot mention that have not been widely used in South all of the interesting work on theoretical east Asia but that can add new forms of issues by scholars included in this volume, I empirical data to debate on these issues. provide a few examples aimed at "whetting For example, a chapter by David Bulbeck the reader's appetite" for looking at all of and Genevieve Clune (chapter 7) bril the book's chapters. Elisabeth Bacus (chap liantly demonstrates how microseriation of ter 4) presents an interesting statistical anal chronologically diagnostic porcelain and ysis of decorative elements on earthenware stoneware at Macassar historic period sites, from geographically widespread sites in the cross-dated in stratigraphically secure con Philippines to demonstrate how ethnohis texts with earthenware, can provide aston torically referenced elite alliance networks ishingly fine chronologies of decorated and shared emblems ofstatus in the historic earthenware, allowing them to assign dates period can be documented in the archaeo to surface materials in the region and to logical record. Two chapters, one by Hilda wider maritime trade patterns extending Soemantri analyzing the clay figurines at into other parts of the Indonesian and Phil Majapahit (chapter 10) and another by ippine archipelagoes. Several authors (most Eusebio Dizon presenting anthropomor notably Miksic, Solheim, Latinis and Stark, phic burial jars from the Ayub Cave site in and Vincent) emphasize the importance the southern Philippines (chapter 5), leav of implementing various materials analysis ing the more popular research realm of procedures to determine earthenware interaction and exchange, illustrate how chemical compositions and sourcing if detailed analysis of excavation contexts and Southeast Asian archaeologists are to move pottery forms can provide important beyond speculative scenarios of migration insights about how societies symbolically and exchange and to sort out whether the encoded ideas about the social and political distribution of certain earthenware types order in ceramics. Another chapter com represent the actual migration of people, paring tripod pottery from Thailand and interregional or intraregional trade, or the Malaysia Neolithic and later sites, authored cultural borrowing of design elements by by Leong Sau (chapter 12), considers the peoples in contact (as aptly stated in BOOK REVIEWS 247

McKinnon's chapter on Sumatra, we need porary pottery production in Myanmar also be aware that some ofour earthenware (Charlotte Reith, chapter 21), the larger sherds may come from as far afield as Persia region of mainland Southeast Asia (Leedom and India!). In their chapter, Bulbeck and Lefforts and Louise Cort, chapter 20), and Clune point out that maritime specialist Assam (Dilip Medhi, chapter 22) that heed groups like the Bajau are historically sig Miksic's and Solheim's call for more col nificant in disseminating pottery and ideas laboration between archaeologists and eth about pottery forms throughout the region, nographers interested in the social and his and that we need material studies to iden torical contexts of earthenware production tify some of these previously poorly con in the region. sidered forms of cultural transmission. San In summary, this is a superb book that is toso Soegondho's presentation of chemical likely to become a valued reference work analyses of various Indonesian earthenware for any archaeologist working with earth (chapter 6), Nik Hassan Rahman and enware ceramics in Southeast Asia, as well Asyaari bin Muhamad's x-ray diffraction as those who desire a well-crafted synthesis studies of protohistoric earthenware from of current theoretical interpretations and Kuala Selinsing in Malaysia (chapter 14), methodological developments in Southeast Stephen Chia's (chapter 13) use of multiple Asian archaeology by prominent scholars materials characterization techniques on carrying out research in all the major geo Sabah ceramics, and Brian Vincent's graphic areas of Southeast Asia. As an (chapter 16) synthesis of various forms of endnote, I wanted to point particularly to materials analysis on prehistoric Thai cer Eusebio Dizon's chapter discussing the amics represent very significant steps in the hazards of preserving the anthropomorphic direction of resolving these issues of earth burial jars at Ayub Cave in the Philippines enware sourcing and the possible social to underscore the point that sites with mechanisms underlying their geographic earthenware as the primary archaeological distribution. Complementing this work remains can be in as much danger of de tracing earthenware origins is exciting new struction as those with substantial monu research at earthenware production sites, as mental architecture and traditionally more exemplified by Stephen Chia's matching "commercially valuable" porcelain. There of chemically analyzed clays at a probable fore, we need to continue a strong pace of production locale with his excavated pot professionally excavating, preserving, anal tery at Sabah sites and Amara Srisuchat's yzing, and publishing these significant ar (chapter 17) excavation of a probable kiln chaeological materials. site in southern Thailand, where a finely made "ceremonial" ware widely circulated NOTE in Thailand, Java, Sumatra, and Singapore Laura Lee Junker was scheduled to review this may have originated. Finally, I should note book prior to becoming a coeditor for Asian Per that the volume includes three very ex spectives, and she reviewed this book as an aca cellent ethnographic chapters on contem- demic colleague rather than in her role as editor.