| Chapter 1: | Introduction |
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The spatial definition of “Southeast China” in this monograph is the area including modern southern Zhejiang Province, Fujian Province, and northeastern Guangdong Province of China. It is generally between latitude 23° ~ 28° North, and between longitude 117° ~ 121° East. Some geographers classify this area generally as China‘s “Southeast Coast” (Cressey, 1955; Tregear, 1980). However, a series of mountain chains clearly separate the coast from the inland in terms of environment within southeast China. From an archaeological perspective, the coast and inland have had different cultures during the Neolithic period (see Chapter Three). For reasons to be discussed in the following, this monograph will focus on the coastal area (Figure 1).
Figure 1. The Area of Southeast China
