Chinese Diaspora Archaeology in North America, by Chelsea Rose and J. Ryan Kennedy (eds)

Abstract

Chinese Diaspora Archaeology in North America, edited by Chelsea Rose and J. Ryan Kennedy, offers a comprehensive examination of the material lives of Chinese immigrants in 19th-century North America. The editors aim to challenge traditional archaeological narratives that often essentialize race and identity. By presenting a diverse range of site-based and thematic case studies, the volume highlights understudied aspects such as entrepreneurialism, cross-cultural interactions, and the experiences of Chinese communities in the Jim Crow South. Contributors advocate for a transnational perspective, emphasizing the importance of understanding the global connections and relationships formed through migration. This work seeks to expand the scope of Chinese diaspora archaeology by integrating broader anthropological and archaeological debates and exploring new contexts and topics.

Keywords: Chinese diaspora, Chinese immigrants, archaeology