Panlongcheng
Encyclopedia
Panlongcheng is an archaeological site associated with the Erligang culture
. The site is located just north of the Yangtze river
in Hubei
, China
. Panlongcheng is the largest excavated Erligang site (1 km² at its peak), showing the southernmost reach of the Erligang culture at its peak.
The site at Panlongcheng was sparsely inhabited during the Erlitou period
,consisting mainly of several small settlements and occupying an area of around 200,000 m². During the early Erligang period, the site suddenly grew rapidly, reaching an area of around 1 km² (0.386102158592535 sq mi) with a walled center of 75,000 m². Panlongcheng may have been an Erligang outpost used to control regional resources, such as copper mines.
The construction and bronze casting techniques at Panlongcheng are identical with the techniques employed at Erligang and Zhengzhou
; however, the pottery style is different. The style of Erligang elite burials is almost an exact replica of the burials at Zhengzhou; however, later layers show that the Erligang style disappeared during the later stages of the Erligang culture. The site declined until it was abandoned altogether at the end of the Erligang culture. Panlongcheng's decline may have been affected in part by the growth of the site at Wucheng
.
Erligang culture
The Erligang culture is the term used by archaeologists to refer to a Bronze Age archaeological culture in China. The primary site was discovered at Erligang, just outside of the modern city of Zhengzhou, Henan, in 1951....
. The site is located just north of the Yangtze river
Yangtze River
The Yangtze, Yangzi or Cháng Jiāng is the longest river in Asia, and the third-longest in the world. It flows for from the glaciers on the Tibetan Plateau in Qinghai eastward across southwest, central and eastern China before emptying into the East China Sea at Shanghai. It is also one of the...
in Hubei
Hubei
' Hupeh) is a province in Central China. The name of the province means "north of the lake", referring to its position north of Lake Dongting...
, China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
. Panlongcheng is the largest excavated Erligang site (1 km² at its peak), showing the southernmost reach of the Erligang culture at its peak.
The site at Panlongcheng was sparsely inhabited during the Erlitou period
Erlitou culture
The Erlitou culture is a name given by archaeologists to an Early Bronze Age urban society that existed in China from 2000 BCE to 1500 BCE. The culture was named after the site discovered at Erlitou in Yanshi, Henan Province...
,consisting mainly of several small settlements and occupying an area of around 200,000 m². During the early Erligang period, the site suddenly grew rapidly, reaching an area of around 1 km² (0.386102158592535 sq mi) with a walled center of 75,000 m². Panlongcheng may have been an Erligang outpost used to control regional resources, such as copper mines.
The construction and bronze casting techniques at Panlongcheng are identical with the techniques employed at Erligang and Zhengzhou
Zhengzhou
Zhengzhou , is the capital and largest city of Henan province in north-central China. A prefecture-level city, it also serves as the political, economic, technological, and educational centre of the province, as well as a major transportation hub for Central China...
; however, the pottery style is different. The style of Erligang elite burials is almost an exact replica of the burials at Zhengzhou; however, later layers show that the Erligang style disappeared during the later stages of the Erligang culture. The site declined until it was abandoned altogether at the end of the Erligang culture. Panlongcheng's decline may have been affected in part by the growth of the site at Wucheng
Wucheng culture
The Wucheng culture was a Bronze Age archaeological culture in Jiangxi, China. The initial site, spread out over , was discovered at Wucheng, Zhangshu. Located on the Gan River, the site was first excavated in 1973. The Wucheng culture probably developed in response to cultural contacts with the...
.