Hunan is a province with abundant cultural relics and splendid ancient culture in South China. Since the founding of New China, archaeological work has vigorously grown across this region and has continuously obtained new fruits through its three major developmental stages. Spectacular achievements have been acquired in the understanding of Palaeolithic cultural groups, the study of cultural remains at the transitional stage between the Palaeolithic and Neolithic Age, the establishment of the pedigree of Neolithic archaeological cultures and research on early Neolithic cultures, the investigation of the origin of rice agriculture and prehistoric city-sites, the revelation of remains of archaeological cultures in Shang and Zhou times and the grouping of bronzes, the discovery and study of numerous tombs from the Chu and Han periods, and the archaeology of kiln-sites and the study of ceramics. At present, archaeological work in Hunan has reached the new stage when excavations and synthetic studies are carried out mainly around important archaeological problems. With the application of new techniques and the deepening of researches, it will certainly achieve more glorious success in the new century.
