Origins of Chinese Civilization
1. early humans in China2. Neolithic Revolution and social complexity3. Neolithic material culture in China (Dawenkou tomb M10)4. regional interaction and the origins of Chinese civilization
Paleolithic “old stone” 2,000,000 bp -10,000 bp
Bifacial hand axes Paleolithic period
Homo erectus
Skull of “Peking Man” first discovered in 1920's in Beijing ca. 500,000 bp
Homo sapiens earliest fossil evidence in China ca. 150,000-100,000 bp
1. early humans in China 2. Neolithic Revolution and social complexity 3. Neolithic material culture in China (Dawenkou tomb M10) 4. regional interaction and the origins of Chinese civilization
Neolithic “new stone” 8,000 BCE-2,000 BCE
Neolithic tools discovered in Mongolia
Neolithic Revolution ca. 10,000 bp
Neolithic pottery Banpo site Xi'an, Shaanxi Province
social complexity
1. early humans in China 2. Neolithic Revolution and social complexity 3. Neolithic material culture in China (Dawenkou tomb M10) 4. regional interaction and the origins of Chinese civilization
Regional cultures of Neolithic China
Xi/Pearl R.
Shandong Peninsula
Dawenkou 4300-2500 BCE
Regional cultures of Neolithic China
Xi/Pearl R.
Dawenkou Tomb M10
vertical shaft tomb
secondary ledge
Pottery from Dawenkou Culture ca. 5000-3000 BCE) Shandong Province
Dawenkou pottery
Jade axe from Dawenkou Tomb M10 Lower Yellow r. valley c. 4000-3000 BCE
ritual object
Jade pendant NE China ca. 3000-2500 BCE
Jade dragon NE China ca. 3000-2500 BCE
Jade hair ornament inlaid with turquoise Lower Yellow r. valley c. 2000 BCE
Jade axe Lower Yellow r. valley c. 4000-3000 BCE
jade disk Lower Yangzi r. valley ca 3000-2000 BCE
Black "eggshell" pottery Longshan Culture 2500-1500 B.C.E. Yellow r. valley
Jade tubes Lower Yangzi r. valley ca. 3000-2000 BCE
Jade axe Lower Yangzi r. valley ca. 3000 BCE
1. early humans in China 2. Neolithic Revolution and social complexity 3. Neolithic material culture in China (Dawenkou tomb M10) 4. regional interaction and the origins of Chinese civilization
Regional cultures of Neolithic China
Xi/Pearl R.
Yangshao 5000-3000 BCE
Longshan 3000-2000 BCE
Regional cultures of Neolithic China
Xi/Pearl R.
Painted Pottery Yangshao culture 5000-3000 BCE Middle Yellow River Valley
Black pottery Longshan Culture 2500-1500 BCE Shandong, Henan, Shanxi, Shaanxi
Yangshao 5000-3000 BCE
Longshan 3000-2000 BCE
Regional cultures of Neolithic China
Xi/Pearl R.
Yangshao 5000-3000 BCE
Longshan 3000-2000 BCE
Regional cultures of Neolithic China
Liangzhu 3300-2200 BCE
Xi/Pearl R.
Liangzhu Culture Zhejiang, Jiangsu 3300-2200 B.C.E.
Yangshao 5000-3000 BCE
Longshan 3000-2000 BCE
Regional cultures of Neolithic China
Liangzhu 3300-2200 BCE
Hongshan 3000-2500 BCE
Xi/Pearl R.
Jade dragon Hongshan Culture ca. 3000-2500 BCE Liaoning Province
Yangshao 5000-3000 BCE
Longshan 3000-2000 BCE
Regional cultures of Neolithic China
Liangzhu 3300-2200 BCE
Hongshan 3000-2500 BCE
Xi/Pearl R.
Late Longshan Culture 2500-1500 B.C.E. Shandong, Henan, Shanxi, Shaanxi
jade disk Lower Yangzi r. valley ca 3000-2000 BCE
Jade axe Lower Yangzi r. valley ca. 3000 BCE
pounded-earth construction hangtu
pounded earth foundation hangtu
Architectural foundation (51 m x 32 m) Henan Province ca. 1600 BCE