Bronzes, Mortuary Ritual and the Rise of Political Power in the NE Frontier of Ancient China: A case study of Upper Xiajiadian Burials

Summary

This is an abstract from the "Recent Research on Early Chinese Borderland Cultures and Archaeological Materials" session, at the 84th annual meeting of the Society for American Archaeology.

This study focuses on manipulation of bronzes of different styles, and mortuary rituals overall, during in the emergence of political power in the northeastern frontier of ancient China. Data are presented on three richly furnished burials M101 at Nanshan’gen and M8501 and M9601 at Xiaoheishigou of the Upper Xiajiadian Culture (c.1000-600 BCE) centered in southeastern Inner Mongolia. Three types of tomb bronzes include imported Zhou capital style vessels, bronze weapons and horse ornaments featured with mixed Zhou and northern frontier style, and distinctive locally made bronzes based on indigenous pottery types. Examinations of the style, assemblage and mortuary use of bronzes indicate that material symbols were intentionally selected to mark prestige and authority of individual elites. This study will demonstrate the vibrant role bronzes played in the increasing complexity of the Upper Xiajiadian societies and the interactions between the Zhou from the Central Plain and frontier communities in Eastern Eurasia.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Recent Research on Early Chinese Borderland Cultures and Archaeological Materials   •
• Society for American Archaeology 84th Annual Meeting, Albuquerque, NM (2019)

Keywords

Spatial Coverage

Record Identifiers

Abstract Id(s): 24705