Archaeology and History of the Chinese in Southern New Zealand During the Nineteenth Century: A Study of Acculturation, Adaptation and Change

This revised and updated edition of Dr Neville Ritchie's 1983 PhD dissertation explores the history and archaeology of the 19th-century Chinese mining community of Arrowtown, New Zealand. It is widely considered the most comprehensive archaeological study of overseas Chinese miners' experience anywhere in the world, and contains the total summation and analysis of artefacts found in 23 Chinese sites excavated over nine years.

Format: Paperback / softback
Publication date: 01 November 2023
Publisher: Sydney University Press

The original PhD, recognized as a cornerstone for international scholarship on the archaeology of the overseas Chinese, has long been a valuable reference source, although it is only accessible electronically in low-quality scans. This appeal extends to archaeologists, museums, collectors, scholars, and the general public with an interest in the Chinese diaspora, particularly in New Zealand. What sets this volume apart is its extensive and high-quality line illustrations of artifacts and sites, making it a unique resource. A new introduction and conclusion provide an update on the work conducted on Chinese sites in Australia since the thesis was presented.

Dr. Neville Ritchie, with over 45 years of professional experience in archaeology and heritage management, is considered an authority.

This revised and updated edition of Dr. Neville Ritchie's 1983 PhD dissertation delves into the history and archaeology of the 19th-century Chinese mining community of Arrowtown, New Zealand. Lavishly illustrated with black-and-white line drawings of Chinese domestic and industrial sites, as well as the artifacts excavated from them, this study offers unprecedented insight into the lives and material culture of these male-only sojourner communities. Widely regarded as the most comprehensive archaeological study of overseas Chinese miners' experiences anywhere in the world, this volume encompasses the comprehensive summation and analysis of artifacts discovered in 23 Chinese sites excavated over a span of nine years, including two camps (with 40 individual huts and other features), a Chinese store, and 20 rural sites, including miner's huts and rock shelters. Recognized as a seminal work in historical archaeology by the Australian Society for Historical Archaeology, this 2023 edition introduces Dr. Ritchie's groundbreaking discoveries.

Dimension: 297 x 210 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781743329313