April 27-28, 2018

The Greater South China Sea Interaction Zone –
A Workshop to Explore Interdisciplinary Interventions into the Study of the Ancient East Eurasian South

The Greater South China Sea Interaction Zone Workshop was held at the Tang Center for Early China, Columbia University from April 27 to 28, 2018. This workshop brought together some of the world’s leading scholars of this ancient region to explore interdisciplinary interventions into the study of the Ancient East Eurasian South (South China/SW China/Vietnam). The goal is to start serious discussions and efforts to promote collaborative, state-of-the-field research on the history, archaeology, and linguistics of the “greater South China Sea interaction zone.” Eight scholars shared their work to an interdisciplinary audience and explore the limits of what we currently know and the limits of the approaches we take in the disciplines of archaeology, linguistics, and history. They also examined networks of interaction in the ancient world and attempt to come up with new models that might be used to better explain the unique historical development and trajectory of this part of the ancient world.

Co-organizers:
Erica Brindley (History), The Pennsylvania State University
John Phan (Linguistics), Columbia University
Francis Allard (Archaeology), Indiana University of Pennsylvania

Panelists:
Alice Yao (Archaeology), University of Chicago
Nam Kim (Archaeology), University of Wisconsin
Daniel Kaufman (Linguistics), Queens College, CUNY
Catherine Churchman (History), Victoria University
Mark Alves (Linguistics), Montgomery College

Participating Scholars:
Duan Tianjing , Jilin University; Guo Jue, Barnard College; Luo Xinhui , Beijing Normal University; Shen Chao, Xi’an Jiaotong University; Chris Kim, Columbia University; Yong-ha Kim, Columbia University; Shih-han Wang, Columbia University; Dongming Wu, Columbia University

Panel 1: Linguistics and its Limits and Potentials
John Phan (Panel Chair), Mark Alves, Daniel Kaufman