Dawenkou culture

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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.

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 t e Prehistoric cultures of China

Paleolithic Neolithic Chalcolithic

Yellow River Middle Reaches	(Nanzhuangtou) Cishan culture Beixin culture Peiligang culture Jiahu Dadiwan culture Yangshao culture Banpo Longshan culture Chengziya Taosi

Yellow River Upper Reaches	Dadiwan culture Yangshao culture Xishuipo Majiayao culture Qijia culture Lajia

Yellow River Lower Reaches	Houli culture Beixin culture Dawenkou culture

Yangtze River Middle and Upper Reaches	Pengtoushan culture Bashidang 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 Xinle culture

Southern China	Zengpiyan culture Shixia culture

Tibet	Karuo culture Qugong culture

Taiwan	Dabenkeng culture Beinan culture

History Archaeology History

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Dawenkou culture

See also

References