Abstract The tombs of Dai Zhou and his wife, née Wan, were discovered and excavated in 2014 in Chang’an District, Xi’an. Dai Zhou served as the Minister of the Ministry of Revenue during the reign of Taizong in the Tang dynasty. Both tombs, placed side by side from east to west in the same cemetery, are shaft tombs with a long sloping ramp, multiple ventilation shafts, and a single rectangular chamber. Over 100 artifacts were unearthed. Well-preserved murals, depicting sword-bearing guardian warriors, servants, and musicians, were found in Dai Zhou’s tomb. The epitaphs from these tombs provide new insights into the late Sui and early Tang history.

Abstract The Houtaomuga Phase I culture represents the earliest Neolithic remains found in Northeast China heretofore, thus filling an over 10,000-year gap in early pottery distribution. Pottery decorations and manufacturing techniques from this culture are unique. The pattern application methods seen are stamping, rolling, and incising. The emergence of flat-bottomed pottery and coiling techniques serves as a prelude to the later ceramic tradition of cylindrical jars with flat bottoms. Comb-teeth decorations along with plant fiber temper indicate similarity with pottery remains in Eastern Siberia and the Russian Far East.

Abstract The Anyang Team of Institute of Archaeology, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences conducted five excavations of a bronze foundry site at the Huanbei Shang City from 2015 to 2019. A variety of archaeological features were discovered, ranging from the foundation built from calcareous nodules and rammed earth, bronze melting and casting area, refuse area, sacrificial pit, ash pit, well, and cache pit. Many artifacts related to metallurgy were also unearthed, including clay molds, models, cores, bellow nozzles, slag, furnace fragments, charcoal, bone gravers, and whetstones. The discovery of this bronze foundry site is of great value for the study of the Huanbei Shang City layout, the operation, and management of bronze casting, technological transmission, and other questions. Bronze casting technology at Huanbei Shang City was still in its early stages of development, but it laid a solid foundation for the later flourishing of the bronze civilization at Yinxu.

Abstract The discovery of the Warring States tomb M1 at Guozishan is a groundbreaking achievement in Eastern Zhou archaeology in Jiangxi. This earthen pit tomb is ditch-bounded with two sloping ramps leading to the bottom. The wooden burial chamber comprises 25 sub-chambers, and more than 2600 pieces/sets of grave goods were unearthed, including sets of ritual vessels, musical instruments, weaponry, chariot and horse accouterments. The tomb dates back to the middle Warring States period, and inscriptions found on the “Zhiyi” and “Bu?shou” ge-dagger-axes (or ji-halberds) suggest the tomb occupant had a close relationship with the Yue royal house. This tomb reflects diverse cultural attributes, which integrated and coexisted with each other. The excavation holds significance as it offers insights into local history, political landscape, and cultural changes during the Eastern Zhou period.

Abstract The Mogou site in Lintan, Gansu, has yielded the largest collection of Qijia culture bronze artifacts discovered to date. More than 300 bronze artifacts were unearthed, including new forms such as bracelets, neck ornaments, and earrings with trumpet-shaped ends, reflecting the advanced bronze production technology during the late Qijia culture period. This paper presents an analysis of 146 bronze artifacts from the Mogou site, conducted through metallographic microscopy and SEM-EDS analysis. Our results indicate that a relatively high percentage of small ornaments, primarily made of tin bronze, underwent hot forging and cold working, while tools, primarily made of copper and tin-bronze, were typically cast. Furthermore, this study reveals the concurrent existence of leaded tin bronze and arsenical bronze during the late Qijia culture period, suggesting influences from multiple metallurgical systems.

Abstract The School of History, Zhengzhou University et al. excavated two bronze foundry zones in the northern part of the larger city at the Guanzhuang site in the summer of 2016 and the autumn of 2017. Archaeological features related to bronze casting were revealed, such as ash pits, wells, and sacrificial pits. A large number of casting artifacts were also retrieved, including clay molds, models, cores, furnace fragments, tuyeres, bronze knives, and whetstones. Judging from the characteristics of the clay molds and co-existing pottery artifacts, the bronze foundries dates to the early- and mid-Spring and Autumn period. A great variety of unearthed artifacts from the Guanzhuang bronze foundries, as well as the material repertoire for casting large bronze ritual vessels and coins, testify that the owner of the workshop could have enjoyed a high social status and possessed great wealth. This is of great importance for the understanding of the nature and function of the Guanzhuang site during the early- and mid-Spring and Autumn period.

Abstract A cast brass ewer was unearthed from the Shangfang Śarīra Stupa crypt at Qingshan Monastery. Most likely, it was made in the northwestern part of the South Asian subcontinent in the late seventh century. Integrating ancient Roman, Sassanian, and early Islamic styles, the shape of this ewer not only is a mixture of the elements of different eras and traditions but also reflects unique attributes. The multi-headed and multi-armed deities from Hinduism, especially Skanda, may have inspired the six-faced design on the body. Eventually, the ewer was taken to Chang’an by Indian or Kashmirian monks and buried in the pagoda’s crypt.

Abstract By examining the structural components, settlement plan, and developmental trajectory of the capital city at Erlitou, it is possible to explore the emergence of the state, kingship, and accompanying characteristics. Erlitou has been subjected to intensive excavation, revealing roads, walls, huge sacrificial pits, and palatial buildings with multiple courtyards as indicated by foundation No. 5. As to the developmental trajectory of the settlement pattern, all principal components of a capital city appeared in phase II of the Erlitou culture. A layout based on intersecting roads also formed, thus laying a foundation for the plan of an urban center in later periods. The open urban system formed during the Erlitou period changed to a closed system during later periods. The Erlitou site went through an initial phase during which it flourished as a capital city, then a period when principal urban components were gradually abandoned. The site became a high-ranking settlement during the early Erligang period. There is a relationship between the changes through time in pottery typology and the development of the settlement pattern. Kin-based residential and burial areas define the spatial division of the capital city at Erlitou. The mode of craft production is characterized by a large-scale workshop enclosure along with small-scale production sites.

Abstract Shimao and Taosi are the two most important North China mega-sites dating from the late Longshan through early Xia. Both were possibly early political centers. Based on a comprehensive analysis of updated archaeological discoveries and the results of interdisciplinary research, the current study is a preliminary discussion of interactions between Shimao and Taosi. We argue that the inter-site dynamic varied over time. More importantly, Shimao influenced middle and late Taosi to the extent of altering its cultural identity, as evidenced by the archaeological record.

Abstract The multidisciplinary research on the Yangshao period (4200–2900 BCE) tomb M13, a joint secondary burial at the Baligang site of the Yangshao culture in Dengzhou City, Henan Province showed that there were in total 126 individuals buried in this grave. Their death crossed at least 200 years; among them, at least five individuals were from three maternal lineages, and the descent system of this group was patrilineal. There were also 138 pig mandibles buried in M13, which had been dated and shows that they were collected across over 400 years. Based on the statistics the death population at Baligang site, it is estimated that the human bones found from M13 went through a secondary burial process during which they were probably regarded as “ceremonial objects.” The joint secondary burials as M13 is seen as a result of some reburying ceremonies held at the Baligang site.