Abstract Zoomorphic jade objects, the most iconic type of the late Shang jades, are distinguished by their abundance and diversity of forms. Analytical data on the artifacts’ burial contexts and the proportional representation of animal forms reveal two distinct diffusion patterns: a maintained consistency in diffusion and an uneven and selective geographic distribution. The distribution of zoomorphic jade objects aligns with the political landscape of the late Shang dynasty, indicating military strongholds or key sites for strategic resources. In regions outside of Yinxu, most tomb owners interred with zoomorphic jade objects were of high social status, often with clear military backgrounds. Thus, these zoomorphic jade objects were not merely ornaments or ritual items but were also indicators of wealth and status in the late Shang dynasty.

Abstract A joint excavation led by the Shandong Provincial Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology and the College of Liberal Arts of Shanghai University was conducted in the southern Gangshang site in Tengzhou between September 2020 and January 2021. This excavation revealed a cemetery with 16 vertical earthen pit tombs from the late Dawenkou period. The tombs, categorized as large, medium, or small, displayed significant hierarchical differences, variety of grave goods, and types of burial containers. These findings provide valuable insights into the social stratification, burial practices, funerary rites, and the evolution of ritual systems during the late Dawenkou period.

Abstract Chinese painted pottery probably originated during the early Neolithic and developed through the middle to the first half of the late Neolithic period. Flourishing between 6000 and 5000 years ago, it was initially heavily distributed in the middle and lower Yangtze River areas and Haidai region, then spread northward to the middle Yellow River area, and finally reached its zenith during the Taosi culture period. In this process, painted pottery transitioned from “non-ritual vessels” to “ritual vessels.” In certain regions, painted pottery emerged either independently or through the integration of exotic and local traditions; while in others, its use was due entirely to external cultural influences.

Abstract Based on the typology of ceramic wares and analysis of the spatial distribution, origin, and dispersal of other categories of archaeological remains, it can be determined that three grand cultural spheres existed on the Holocene Eurasian Continent prior to the rise of the Silk Road. These were the Early Eastern Cultural Sphere, centered around the Yellow River valley and the Yangtze River valley; the Early Western Cultural Sphere, centered around the Tigris-Euphrates River valley (Mesopotamia); the Early Northern Cultural Sphere, located to the north of the Eastern and Western Cultural Spheres. Due to cultural interactions, collisions, and exchanges, there were large intersection zones between the three grand cultural spheres.

Abstract Neolithic remains at the Sitai site, uncovered from 2020 to 2022, are categorized into five groups. Notable findings include over 40 houses and a variety of artifacts made from pottery, stone, bone, and shell. Groups I and II’s remains reveal distinct cultural characteristics, identifying the early Neolithic Sitai culture. Group III provides evidence of domesticated agriculture dating back to around 7600 years ago, marking the inception of dryland farming in northern China. Group IV’s cultural elements align with the later stage of Phase II of the Yumin culture (Xinglong culture Phase II), restricting the Yumin culture’s southern extent. Lastly, Group V’s remains highlight significant exchanges with distant northern cultures, which is crucial for understanding the early Steppe Silk Road’s development.

Abstract In 2021 and 2022, excavations of the Nanzuo site focused on the large rammed-earth structures in the northern part. Trial excavations were conducted on the west side, including the west edge of Platform 3 and the west moat, complemented by investigations and extensive surveys. The site spans over 600ha, with its core area being the “nine platforms” surrounded by double moats, which form the core of the settlement. Artifacts unearthed include pottery, bone, stone, and turquoise objects, along with carbonized rice, foxtail millet, broomcorn millet, pig bones, and deer antlers. The Nanzuo site represents a large-scale, high-ranking central settlement with capital city features on the Loess Plateau, dating back to the late Yangshao culture, about 5000 years ago. This suggests that the Longdong region in eastern Gansu was in the early stages of statehood or a civilized society at that time.

Abstract In 2021 and 2022, archaeological surveys and major excavations were conducted at the Xuetang Liangzi site in Areas B, C, and E. These efforts uncovered archaeological remains that include a complete sequence of Paleolithic cultures in southern China. The history of prehistoric human activity at the site spans more than one million years, covering the early to late Paleolithic period. The No. 3 skull of Yunxian Man, unearthed from Layer 3 in Area B, dates to approximately one million years ago and is the best-preserved hominin cranium found on the Eurasian continent of its period.

Abstract This study examines the “export” of Chinese bronze mirrors and their destinations from the ninth to the tenth century, focusing on three shipwrecks—Belitung, Intan, and Cirebon—discovered in the Java Sea, Indonesia. Approximately 70 Chinese bronze mirrors were recovered from these wrecks. Through a comprehensive analysis of the styles, assemblages, and spatial distribution of the mirrors found on these shipwrecks, and by comparing them with contemporaneous examples unearthed from tombs, pagodas, and hoards, this study argues that the distinction between “export” bronze mirrors and those “domestic” lies in the coexistence of new and old mirrors in the export cases. These export assemblages featured a higher proportion of heavier and more exquisitely crafted “old mirrors.” This distinction is attributed to the specific demands of overseas markets such as Southeast Asia, West Asia, and Central Asia for high-quality Chinese bronze products.

Abstract Through typological analysis and pattern comparison, this study demonstrates that the Seima-Turbino-type bronze spearheads unearthed from the Xiawanggang site date roughly to the end of the third millennium BCE or the beginning of the second millennium BCE. Considering their similarities to the Okunev culture, the Shimao culture, and the iconography of the post-Shijiahe culture, this study suggests that the appearance of Seima-Turbino-type bronze spearheads in the Yangtze River valley resulted from north-south cultural exchange. Understanding this cultural exchange is significant for comprehending changes in China’s prehistoric cultural patterns during the Longshan-Erlitou culture period.