Dr. Liye Xie studies the co-construction of technology and society with specialties in preindustrial technologies of bone, stone, and earthen construction. She employs a broad range of theory and research strategies in order to explain technological choices, origins and intensification of agriculture, urbanization, and social transformation during the Neolithic period and Early Bronze Age in various regions in China. Many of her projects involve intensive archaeological experimentation regarding the production and consumption of bone and stone tools and rammed-earth (pisé) construction. She is currently working on the project entitled "resettlement, urban construction and social transformation in the Middle Yellow River valley".