The function of the “large house” of the Miaodigou Culture and the social complexity

Summary

This is an abstract from the "New Thoughts on Current Archaeological Research in Neolithic and Bronze Age China" session, at the 90th annual meeting of the Society for American Archaeology.

The grand and complex semi-subterranean pentagonal houses were one of the significant hallmarks of the Miaodigou Culture, and many scholars have studied their function. This study, through a re-examination of the internal structure, surrounding remains, and related factors of such houses, suggests that these houses were likely associated with the production of painted pottery, which was highly influential at the time. The semi-subterranean pentagonal houses and painted pottery with ritual significance, such as the "Huashan Rose”, appear to have coexisted and declined together. Exploring this positive correlation offers a new perspective on understanding the settlement structure of the Miaodigou Culture and the process of social complexity in prehistoric China.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Society for American Archaeology 90th Annual Meeting, Denver, CO (2025)   •
• New Thoughts on Current Archaeological Research in Neolithic and Bronze Age China

Keywords

Record Identifiers

Abstract Id(s): 52522