Zhukaigou culture
Encyclopedia
The Zhukaigou culture was a late Neolithic
and early Bronze Age
culture centered in the Ordos Plateau
of Inner Mongolia
, China
. The type site at Zhukaigou was discovered in Ejin Banner
, Inner Mongolia, and excavated from 1977 to 1984. Zhukaigou culture is a reputed progenitor of the “Ordos bronze culture” and accordingly a first "Northern Zone" culture, extending to northern and central Inner Mongolia, northern Shaanxi, and northern Shanxi, with the Ordos region at its center. Transition to metalworking is dated to around the end of the third millennium BCE, at the same time was attained a higher level in the ceramic. Zhukaigou culture lasted to ca. 1500 BCE.
Archaeologists have divided the culture into five phases, corresponding with the late stage of the Longshan culture
, the early, middle and late stages of the Erlitou culture
and the early stage of the Erligang culture
. The early phase of the culture was influenced by the Longshan culture
, while the middle phases were influenced by the Qijia culture
; it was during this time frame when bronze artefacts begin to appear in the material culture. Zhukaigou people were agriculturalists, with millet as a main staple, they also had sheep, pigs, and cattle.
In the first half of the second millennium (2000-1500 BCE) the Zhukaigou people already used oracle-bone divination, a practice that later was closely associated with Shang
culture and statecraft. Shang-type artifacts suggest that around the mid-second millennium BCE increased contacts between the local Zhukaigou people and the Shang, or that the Shang culture extended northward. Shang ritual vessels, such as ding and jue, and weapons appear there during the Erlitou (2100—1800 [1500?] BCE) and Erligang (ca. 1500–1,400 BCE) periods.
Bronze objects dated to the last period of existence of Zhukaigou culture ca. 1500 BCE point to native production of a mixed complex of bronze objects that included typical "Northern Zone" items like daggers, with typical Shang ge (戈) dagger-axes, and knives that reveal both Shang and northern features.
In the late period of Zhukaigou culture, ca. 1,500 BCE, appeared motifs like snake pattern and the flower-shaped edge of the li (鬲) vessel which archaeologists regard as characteristic of later nomadic peoples of this area. During the last phase of the Zhukaigou culture, the former practice of sheep and pig sacrifices was gradually being replaced by the practice of dog sacrifices.
Neolithic
The Neolithic Age, Era, or Period, or New Stone Age, was a period in the development of human technology, beginning about 9500 BC in some parts of the Middle East, and later in other parts of the world. It is traditionally considered as the last part of the Stone Age...
and early Bronze Age
Bronze Age
The Bronze Age is a period characterized by the use of copper and its alloy bronze as the chief hard materials in the manufacture of some implements and weapons. Chronologically, it stands between the Stone Age and Iron Age...
culture centered in the Ordos Plateau
Ordos Desert
The Ordos Desert is a desert and steppe region lying on a plateau in the south of the Inner Mongolian Autonomous Region of the People's Republic of China . The soil of the Ordos is a mixture of clay and sand and, as a result, is poorly suited for agriculture. It extends over an area of...
of Inner Mongolia
Inner Mongolia
Inner Mongolia is an autonomous region of the People's Republic of China, located in the northern region of the country. Inner Mongolia shares an international border with the countries of Mongolia and the Russian Federation...
, 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...
. The type site at Zhukaigou was discovered in Ejin Banner
Ejin Banner
Ejin Banner is a banner of Inner Mongolia, China. It is under the administration of Alxa League.-Transportation:Eljin Banner is served by the Jiayuguan-Ceke and the Linhe-Ceke Railways.-References:*...
, Inner Mongolia, and excavated from 1977 to 1984. Zhukaigou culture is a reputed progenitor of the “Ordos bronze culture” and accordingly a first "Northern Zone" culture, extending to northern and central Inner Mongolia, northern Shaanxi, and northern Shanxi, with the Ordos region at its center. Transition to metalworking is dated to around the end of the third millennium BCE, at the same time was attained a higher level in the ceramic. Zhukaigou culture lasted to ca. 1500 BCE.
Archaeologists have divided the culture into five phases, corresponding with the late stage of the Longshan culture
Longshan culture
The Longshan culture was a late Neolithic culture in China, centered on the central and lower Yellow River and dated from about 3000 BC to 2000 BC...
, the early, middle and late stages of the Erlitou culture
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...
and the early stage of the Erligang culture
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 early phase of the culture was influenced by the Longshan culture
Longshan culture
The Longshan culture was a late Neolithic culture in China, centered on the central and lower Yellow River and dated from about 3000 BC to 2000 BC...
, while the middle phases were influenced by the Qijia culture
Qijia culture
The Qijia culture was an early Bronze Age culture distributed around the upper Yellow River region of western Gansu and eastern Qinghai, China, it is regarded as one of the earliest bronze cultures. Johan Gunnar Andersson discovered the initial site at Qijiaping in 1923...
; it was during this time frame when bronze artefacts begin to appear in the material culture. Zhukaigou people were agriculturalists, with millet as a main staple, they also had sheep, pigs, and cattle.
In the first half of the second millennium (2000-1500 BCE) the Zhukaigou people already used oracle-bone divination, a practice that later was closely associated with Shang
Shang
The shang is a flat ritual upturned handbell employed by Bönpo and Asian shamans. The sizes of the shang range from approximately 3 to 20 inches in diameter. It is traditionally held to have originated in Zhangzhung and is symbolically similar to the tantric dril-bhu. Shang are traditionally...
culture and statecraft. Shang-type artifacts suggest that around the mid-second millennium BCE increased contacts between the local Zhukaigou people and the Shang, or that the Shang culture extended northward. Shang ritual vessels, such as ding and jue, and weapons appear there during the Erlitou (2100—1800 [1500?] BCE) and Erligang (ca. 1500–1,400 BCE) periods.
Bronze objects dated to the last period of existence of Zhukaigou culture ca. 1500 BCE point to native production of a mixed complex of bronze objects that included typical "Northern Zone" items like daggers, with typical Shang ge (戈) dagger-axes, and knives that reveal both Shang and northern features.
In the late period of Zhukaigou culture, ca. 1,500 BCE, appeared motifs like snake pattern and the flower-shaped edge of the li (鬲) vessel which archaeologists regard as characteristic of later nomadic peoples of this area. During the last phase of the Zhukaigou culture, the former practice of sheep and pig sacrifices was gradually being replaced by the practice of dog sacrifices.