Dawenkou culture

Dawenkou culture

Gui (鬹) from Dawenkou Culture

The Dawenkou culture (Chinese: 大汶口文化; pinyin: dàwènkǒu wénhuà) is a name given by archaeologists to a group of Neolithic communities who lived primarily in Shandong, but also appeared in Anhui, Henan and Jiangsu, China. The culture existed from 4100 BC to 2600 BC, co-existing with the Yangshao culture. Turquoise, jade and ivory artefacts are commonly found at Dawenkou sites. The earliest examples of alligator drums appear at Dawenkou sites.

Archaeologists commonly divide the culture into three phases: the early phase (4100-3500 BC), the middle phase (3500-3000 BC) and the late phase (3000-2600 BC). Based on the evidence from grave goods, the early phase was highly egalitarian. The phase is typified by the presence of individually designed, long-stemmed cups (gu). Graves built with earthen ledges became increasingly common during the latter parts of the early phase. During the middle phase, grave goods began to emphasize quantity over diversity. During the late phase, wooden coffins began to appear in Dawenkou burials. The culture became increasingly stratified, as some graves contained no grave goods while others contained a large quantity of grave goods.

The type site at Dawenkou, located in Tai'an, Shandong, was excavated in 1959, 1974 and 1978. Only the middle layer at Dawenkou is associated with the Dawenkou culture, as the earliest layer corresponds to the Beixin culture and the latest layer corresponds to the early Shandong variant of the Longshan culture.

See also

• List of Neolithic cultures of China
• Yangshao culture
• Longshan culture
• Richard J. Pearson - this Canadian archaeologist has published extensively on Dawenkou burials and social status (see Selected Bibliography of Pearson).

References

• Allan, Sarah (ed), The Formation of Chinese Civilization: An Archaeological Perspective, ISBN 0-300-09382-9
• Liu, Li. The Chinese Neolithic: Trajectories to Early States, ISBN 0-521-81184-8
• Underhill, Anne P. Craft Production and Social Change in Northern China, ISBN 0-306-46771-2

v · d · eList of Neolithic cultures of China （Neolithic and Chalcolithic Periods）
Paleolithic · Neolithic · Chalcolithic
Yellow River Middle Reaches	Nanzhuangtou · Cishan culture · Peiligang culture · Dadiwan culture · Jiahu Yangshao culture： Banpo · Miaodigou · Xiawanggang · Xiwangcun · Dahecun · Dasikongcun · Miaodigou second phase Longshan culture： Henan · Taosi · Shaanxi
Yellow River Upper Reaches	Dadiwan culture · Yangshao culture · Majiayao culture · Qijia culture
Yellow River Lower Reaches	Houli culture · Beixin culture · Dawenkou culture · Shandong Longshan culture
Yangtze River Middle and Upper Reaches	Pengtoushan culture · Chengbeixi culture · Tangjiagang culture · Daxi culture · Qujialing culture · Shijiahe culture · Baodun culture
Yangtze River Lower Reaches and Huai River Reaches	Hemudu culture · Majiabang culture · Songze culture · Lingjiatan culture · Liangzhu culture
Northeast China	Xinglongwa culture · Zhaobaogou culture · Hongshan culture · Xiaoheyan culture · Laohushan culture
Southern China	Zengpiyan culture · Shixia culture
Tibet	Karuo culture · Qugong culture
Taiwan	Dabenkeng culture · Beinan culture
History  · Archaeology  · History  · Edits

Categories:

• Archaeological cultures
• Neolithic cultures of China
• History of Shandong
• Chinese history stubs
• Asian archaeology stubs
• People's Republic of China stubs

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• Dawenkou culture — or Ta wen k ou culture Chinese Neolithic culture of с 4500–2700 BC. It was characterized by the emergence of delicate wheel made pots of various colours; ornaments of stone, jade, and bone; walled towns; and high status burials involving ledges… …   Universalium

• culture — /kul cheuhr/, n., v., cultured, culturing. n. 1. the quality in a person or society that arises from a concern for what is regarded as excellent in arts, letters, manners, scholarly pursuits, etc. 2. that which is excellent in the arts, manners,… …   Universalium

• Dawenkou — Poterie Dawenkou découverte au Shandong Musée d art et d archéologie de l Université de Pékin La culture néolithique de Dawenkou s est formée dans la province chinoise du Shandong puis s est diffusée dans les provinces voisines, le Henan, l Anhui …   Wikipédia en Français

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