Neolithic Northern China in the Context of Early Eurasian Interactions

Summary

With a focus on painted pottery assemblages known as Yangshao, Majiayao, Banshan, and Machang from Neolithic Northern China, the present study explores early Eurasian interactions and exchanges indicated by ceramic assemblages and other kinds of archaeological records dated before 4000 years ago. Since the 1920s, scholars have noticed parallels between China’s painted pottery and other collections in Central Asia and further west, prompting the "western origins" theory on painted pottery found in China. However, findings of the last several decades demonstrate that painted pottery followed a general east-to-west expansion from central China to modern-day Xinjiang from approximately 8000 to 2000 years ago. This trend leads to the emphasis on the local origins and independent development of China’s painted pottery. While both hypotheses have their merits, many recent studies suggest intensified cross-regional connections between East Asia and other regions of the Eurasian Continent by 4000 years ago. Whether any external influence can be determined in the development of Neolithic Northern China’s painted pottery remains an open question and demands further studies.

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This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Society for American Archaeology 80th Annual Meeting, San Francisco, CA (2015)   •
• New Insights into Painted Pottery from Northwest China

Keywords

Spatial Coverage