New Insights into Painted Pottery from Northwest China

This panel considers the origin, context, production, and circulation of painted pottery from Northwest China with broad perspectives. Used by people of varied backgrounds and in different contexts, these objects are dated around 8000 to 2000 years ago, from the Neolithic through Early Iron Age. Today, many museums throughout the world hold these ancient pots in their collections. Previous studies provide limited knowledge beyond chronological typologies of vessel forms and decorations. With new methods and data, participants of this panel develop and rethink hypotheses of population movement, cross-regional connection, material exchange, technological diffusion, stylistic imitation, and cultural identity behind these well known objects. New studies consider the ceramics as well as other findings, such as millet, textiles, leather vessels, and cowrie seashell. As comparable motifs can be noticed among painted pottery from China, Central Asia, Southeast Europe, and Southeast Asia, the geographic scope of discussion includes China and other regions of the Eurasian Continent in regional and cross-regional perspectives.