Taosi

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Taosi (Chinese: 陶寺; pinyin: Táosì) is an archaeological site in Xiangfen County, Shanxi, China. Taosi is considered to be part of the late phase of the Longshan culture in southern Shanxi, also known as the Taosi phase (2300 BC - 1900 BC). Taosi was surrounded by a rammed earth wall; the Huaxia settlement outgrew the perimeter of the wall. At its height, Taosi covered an area of 30,000 square meters.^[1] It also contained an astronomical observatory, the oldest in East Asia.^[2] The settlement is the largest Longshan site discovered in the Linfen basin area, possibly a regional center.

The cemetery at Taosi contained over 1,500 burials. The burials at Taosi were highly stratified (the most stratified of Longshan sites), with burial wealth concentrated in the graves of a few males (nine large graves). The largest graves were placed in separated rooms with murals, had a large cache of grave goods (some with over 200 objects, including jades, copper bells, wooden and crocodile skin musical instruments); middle-size graves featured painted wooden coffins and luxury objects; most of the small graves did not have grave goods.^[3] A single bronze bell was also found at a Taosi grave.

Some Chinese archaeologists believe that Taosi was the site of a state Youtang (有唐) conquered by Emperor Yao and became his capital.^[4] The city collapsed with a rebellion against the ruling class.^[5]^[6]^[7] On the other hand, Western scholars tend to believe that emperor Yao is a mythical figure.

Notes

References

Chang, Kwang-chih. The Archaeology of Ancient China, ISBN 0-300-03784-8
He, Nu and Wu, Jiabi. Astronomical date of the "observatory" at Taosi site
Higham, Charles, The Bronze Age of Southeast Asia, ISBN 0-521-56505-7
Liu, Li. The Chinese Neolithic: Trajectories to Early States, ISBN 0-521-81184-8

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

Coordinates: 35°52′55″N 111°29′55″E / 35.88194°N 111.49861°E / 35.88194; 111.49861

This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike; additional terms may apply for the media files.