While traditional Chinese antiquarianism has endured for 1,000 years, modern field archaeology has come to be practiced in China only recently. The Golden Age of Chinese Archaeology recognizes the results of a five-decade-long effort—beginning in the second half of the 20th century—to encourage and support archaeological projects throughout China. The works included are arranged chronologically, from 5000 BCE to the 10th century CE, with works from the same culture or find site presented in groups. These works indicate the rich diversity of the earliest times and the increasingly uniform cultural standards that were imposed over the centuries. Twenty-four specialists in Chinese art and archaeology contributed texts that illustrate some of the major findings from the past 50 years and how they have revised and informed our understanding of Chinese history, ancestry, culture, and tradition.