From Raw Materials to Cultural Exchange: Transregional Interactions Reflected by Beads from South China (500 BCE–500 CE)

LIU Qi

A significant number of beads and ornamental objects dating from 500 BCE to 500 CE have been excavated from archaeological contexts in South China. Characterized by their small size, high value, and large quantities, these beads frequently occupied a central position in ancient trade systems and served as vital material evidence for long-distance exchange and cultural transmission. In recent years, aided by archaeometric analyses, systematic investigations into the materials and manufacturing techniques of these beads have increasingly elucidated their diverse origins. Evidence suggests that raw materials and finished products were sourced from regions including South Asia, Southeast Asia, and even the Mediterranean world, and reached South China via both the Eurasian steppe routes and the Maritime Silk Road. These discoveries reveal a complex structure of ancient exchange networks, evidenced by the circulation of raw materials, the transmission of technological knowledge, the movement of finished products, and the dissemination of cultural ideas. Systematic research on ancient beads from South China not only enhances understanding of the formation and development of early Eurasian interaction networks but also, owing to the well-established stratigraphic sequences and reliable chronological frameworks of Chinese archaeological sites, offers a crucial reference for stratigraphic and chronological investigations of related archaeological contexts in Southeast Asia.