Alcohol Production and Consumption at Zhouyuan: Continuity and Change Across Dynastic Transition

Summary

This is an abstract from the "Technology, Production, and Social Changes in Chinese Archaeology" session, at the 90th annual meeting of the Society for American Archaeology.

This study investigates alcohol production and consumption practices at the Zhouyuan site during the Chinese Bronze Age. Using microfossil analysis, including starch, phytolith, and fungal identification, the research examines fermentation technology, and use of vessels associated with brewing and consumption. By analyzing the archaeological context of these vessels, the study explores the role of alcohol in craft production, ritual feasting, and social identity. Furthermore, the research evaluates the impact of dynastic transition on alcohol-related practices, comparing the traditions at Zhouyuan during the Western Zhou period with those at Yinxu during the late Shang period. This comparison highlights how Zhouyuan either preserved or changed the alcohol practices from Yinxu, offering insights into the political, social, and cultural significance of alcohol across dynasties. These findings contribute to a broader understanding of ritual, identity, and political dynamics in Bronze Age China.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Society for American Archaeology 90th Annual Meeting, Denver, CO (2025)   •
• Technology, Production, and Social Changes in Chinese Archaeology

Keywords

Record Identifiers

Abstract Id(s): 53003