Book excerpt: Focusing on the ancient culture and civilization of China, early Southeast Asia, and Melanesia, contributions from 40 specialists in archaeology, ceramics, conservation, historical studies, linguistics, metallurgy, radiocarbon dating, and x-radiology are coordinated into an overall view of the background of the Pacific cultures to the north of Australia. The forty-five papers were delivered at a conference at Kiola, NSW, in 1988, and have been since updated. All of the contributions are presented in English.