On Liangzhu Culture Tremolite-Tempered Pottery: Social complexity, logistical networks and cross-craft interaction in Neolithic China

Abstract

This investigation delves into the utilization of tremolite, a rare mineral, as a pottery temper for cooking vessels of the late Neolithic lower Yangtze Liangzhu culture. Raman spectroscopy analysis of 165 mineral-tempered pottery sherds from the Dazemiao site revealed that tremolite was the predominant tempering material for tripods (ding), whereas a mixture of feldspar and quartz was used for open-topped vats (da-kou-gang). SEM images indicate that the tremolite temper exhibits relatively coarse fiber structure, corresponding to one of the nephrite materials used for the Liangzhu jade. It is suggested that the Liangzhu miners reallocated materials according to nephrite quality, formulating different product lines, including different types of jade objects and pottery temper. Additionally, the utilization of tremolite temper persisted throughout the entire Liangzhu culture. The presence of tremolite-tempered pottery in regions without indigenous tremolite mines necessitated robust logistical networks for the transportation of these bulky materials. The tremolite temper not only reconfirms the strong ‘jade culture’ of Liangzhu, but also provides evidence of extensive socio-economic exchanges between different geographical regions on the Yangtze River delta.