Brings together 18 recent articles about the beginning stages of metallurgy in early China, about regional cultures where it can be documented, and about the materials and manufacture of the earliest datable metal artifacts excavated in the last several decades in China. The articles have been translated from Chinese language sources in an effort to stimulate dialogue between archaeologists inside and outside the Chinese borders. The articles identify four regional areas of metallurgy, calling into question core-periphery theories which, up till now, have dominated Chinese archaeology. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)