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 Longshan culture is named after the town of Longshan in the east of the area under the administration of the city of
Jinan,
Shandong Province, where the first
archaeological find (in 1928) and excavation (in 1930 and 1931) of this culture took place at the
Chengziya Archaeological Site.
History
The distinctive feature of the Longshan culture was the high level of skill in
pottery making, including the use of pottery wheels. The Longshan culture was noted for its highly polished black pottery (or egg-shell pottery). This type of thin-walled and polished black pottery has also been discovered in the
Yangzi River valley and as far as the southeastern coast of
China proper.
[Fairbank, 32.] It is a clear indication that neolithic agricultural sub-groups of the greater Longshan Culture had spread out across China proper.
[Fairbank, 33.]Life during the Longshan culture marked a transition to the establishment of
cities, as
rammed earth walls and moats began to appear; the site at
Taosi is the largest walled Longshan settlement.
Rice cultivation was clearly established by that time. Small-scale production of
silk by raising and domesticating the silkworm
Bombyx mori in early
sericulture was also known.
Remains found at archaeological sites suggest that the the inhabitants used a method of
divination based on interpreting the crack patterns formed in heated cattle bones
.
The Neolithic population in China reached its peak during the Longshan culture. Toward the end of the Longshan culture, the population decreased sharply; this was matched by the disappearance of high-quality black pottery found in ritual burials.
Eleven characters found at Dinggong in Shandong, China on a pottery sherd, Longshan culture
Periodization
The early period of the Longshan culture is considered to be 3000 to 2600
BC, while the late period is 2600 to 2000 BC.
A variety of geographic regions of China are involved among the various sub-periods of the Longshan civilisation, particularly for the Late Longshan period.
For example middle reaches of the
Jing River and
Wei River evince settlement known as the Shaanxi Longshan.
The Wei River valley would participate in key historic events in China as the
North Silk Road developed in that same area.
Images
Image:Longshan eggshell thin cup.jpg|An eggshell thin cup from Longshan culture
Image:CMOC Treasures of Ancient China exhibit - black pottery goblet.jpg|Black eggshell pottery of the Longshan culture.
See also
