A preliminary assessment of the organization of ceramic production at Liangchengzhen, Rizhao, Shandong: Perspectives from petrography

Abstract

This petrographic analysis of the mineral composition of ceramics from Liangchengzhen (LCZ), Dantu, and two other sites in the Rizhao area, southeastern Shandong province, northern China, addresses the nature of ceramic change in complex societies during the late prehistoric, Longshan period. The analysis focused on relatively coarse wares (ding) used for daily subsistence activities and fine wares (bei cups). Comparison with local clays helped investigate technology and provenance. Results suggest the existence of multiple production units at or near each site. At LCZ, two clay types for ding ware production and two finer (or refined) clay types for bei ware production were the most commonly used throughout the existence of the site indicating stability in use of locally available clay sources over time. We argue that nucleation of population in the area during the Longshan period did not lead to more control for clay acquisition and paste preparation. At the end of the LCZ occupation, production may have intensified in quantity of ware produced and multiplicity of clay (or clay and temper) resources identified. However, there is no evidence for standardization of production with respect to paste composition or that production was centralized in only a few loci, even for the fine ware bei cups. Our results suggest flexible, relatively stable, and self-organizing systems of production and distribution in the Rizhao region, which sustained the populations well during the early and middle Longshan periods.