TogetherShaPopresentsthefirstsustainedanalysis,framedintermsofamulti-periodsociallandscape,ofthevarietiesofhumanactivityinShaPospanningmorethan6,000years.SynthesisingdecadesofearlierfieldworktogetherwithAthaandYip’sownextensiveexcavationsconductedin2008–2010,thediscoveriescollectivelyenabledtheauthorstoreconstructthesocietyinShaPoindifferenthistoricalperiods.
Theartefactsunearthedfromthesite—someofthemuniquetotheregion—revealavibrantpastwhichsawtheinhabitantsofShaPointeractingwiththeenvironmentindiverseways.EvidenceshowingthemasteryofquartzornamentmanufactureandmetallurgyintheBronzeAgesuggestsincreasingcraftspecialisationandtheriseofamorecomplex,competitivesociety.Lateron,duringtheSixDynasties–Tangperiod,ShaPoturnedintoacentreintheregion’simperiallycontrolledkiln-basedsaltindustry.Closertoourtime,inthenineteenthcenturythefarmingandfishingcommunitiesinShaPobecameimportantsuppliersoffoodandfueltourbanHongKong.Ultimately,thisground-breakingworktellsacompellingstoryabouthumanbeings’ceaselessreinventionoftheirlivesthroughthelensofonespecialarchaeologicalsite.
