This study employs bibliometric methods and the visualization tools CiteSpace and VOSviewer to systematically examine the research status and development trends of archaeological cultural interaction over the past two decades (2000–2025). A total of 83 relevant publications from the CNKI and Wanfang databases are analyzed, focusing on annual publication volume, author and institution collaboration networks, keyword co-occurrence, and burst detection. The results show a continuous growth in research output, with a marked increase after 2017. Chinese language publications dominate the field, indicating relatively limited international engagement. While a few core research institutions, such as the Institute of Archaeology, Henan Normal University, and Jilin University, occupy central positions in the collaboration network, the overall network remains fragmented, characterized by local cooperation and weak international linkages. Keyword analysis reveals a clear thematic evolution: early studies concentrated on cultural typology and distribution, often relying on static artifact-based descriptions. From around 2009, research gradually shifted toward regional interaction, methodological refinement, and case-specific analyses. After 2016, interdisciplinary approaches—including network analysis and ancient DNA studies—began to emerge, although theoretical integration remains limited. The paper further discusses the role of national policies in shaping research agendas and promoting methodological innovations. Despite these advances, the field still faces fragmentation and insufficient cross-regional synthesis. The findings provide a quantitative overview of the intellectual landscape of archaeological cultural interaction and suggest directions for future theoretical and empirical integration.
Liu et al. (Mon,) studied this question.