Technological innovation and social unchange: iron in late prehistoric Taiwan to historic times

Taiwan is an appropriate case study to evaluate well established notions in prehistory, in this case, the relationship of technological advancement and social change. In this island, continuity and conservatism are key concepts to understand its prehistory, even in the context of metal use and the introduction of iron production technology. In this paper, we revise extant evidence and conceptualizations of metal use and contextualize in archaeological and analytical terms the metallurgy of iron in Taiwan and the region, using new stratigraphic records. The paper presents the discussion on the iron production and use in Taiwan as the common thread to prompt a new discussion on the technical issues around iron technology itself; revisits significant debates in the discipline on the role of technology and social change; and questions the definition of chronocultural periods based on diagnostic material culture.

Taiwan. East and Southeast Asia. Prehistory. Iron production. Social change.