Relics from the Past

Current exhibitions on human evolution at Chinese museums, including those at the Beijing Natural History Museum and Zhoukoudian Site Museum, are significantly shaped by the historical development of Chinese palaeoanthropology rather than contemporary museological or legislative requirements. This study reveals that the narratives presented in these exhibitions reflect deep-rooted traditions in the field, with the Peking Man Site at Zhoukoudian serving as a key case study. By analyzing three major exhibitions—Origin of Human Beings, the Zhoukoudian Site Museum exhibition, and Ancient China—the research demonstrates how historical context dominates over modern museological practices, offering insights into the intersection of science, history, and public presentation.

Wesemann, L. (2024). Relics from the Past. https://doi.org/10.5771/9783487424484