Chinese pottery - functions of ceramics

Formation and Function of Majiayao and Qijia Pottery

Authors: Andrew Womack and Hui Wang
Source: Asian Perspectives, 2020, Vol. 59, No. 1 (2020), pp. 2-32
Published by: University of Hawai'i Press
Stable URL: JSTOR

Abstract

In the late Neolithic period in northwestern China, pottery was used in various contexts, including mortuary rituals. While some pots placed in graves were interpreted as solely funerary items, this study challenges that notion through the examination of use-alteration and manufacturing marks on vessels from Majiayao (3200–2000 B.C.) and Qijia (2300–1500 B.C.) cemeteries. It proposes that most items were daily-use goods repurposed as mortuary offerings, emphasizing the importance of investigating use-alteration patterns alongside decoration and context for a more comprehensive understanding of the cultural significance of pottery.

Introduction

  • Historical Context:

    • The Majiayao (3200–2000 B.C.) and Qijia (2300–1500 B.C.) cultures flourished in Gansu Province, northwestern China, during the late Neolithic and early Bronze Age.

    • Shared pottery forms and decorations distinguish these cultures chronologically and geographically.

  • Purpose of Study:

    • Typological and stylistic analyses previously dominated the understanding of these ceramic vessels, leading to interpretations of social implications and functions linked to mortuary practices.

    • This study aims to fill the gap regarding the actual functions of these vessels by analyzing their life cycles, manufacturing marks, and use-alterations.

Methodology

  • Analysis Techniques:

    • Use-alteration and manufacturing mark analysis have been utilized across various ethnographic and archaeological studies to establish a clearer understanding of ceramic use.

    • Specific methodologies developed from previous studies (e.g., Skibo 1992, 2013; Crown 2001) were employed.

  • Sample Selection:

    • The analysis focused on pottery sampled from two cemeteries: the Dibaping cemetery (ca. 2650–2300 B.C.) and Qijiaping (ca. 15th to 16th centuries B.C.).

    • Samples from Dibaping included 62 vessels from 31 graves, primarily large painted urns. From Qijiaping, 10 small two-handled vases, 10 cord-marked jars, 5 trumpet-mouth vases, and 38 bowls were analyzed.

Analysis of Manufacturing Marks and Use-Alterations

Dibaping Cemetery

  • Manufacturing Marks:

    • Production involved numerous steps including raw material acquisition, clay preparation, vessel formation, trimming, surface treatments, and firing.

    • Various manufacturing marks, including scraping and fire shadows, were identified on the vessels examined.

    • Scraping was common on large painted urns, likely done to smooth the exterior during the leather-hard stage of drying.

    • Traces of manufacturing steps were visible on many vessels, indicating different production techniques.

  • Use-Alteration:

    • Use-wear, residues, and other signs of internal and external wear were documented.

    • Findings showed diverse usage patterns, with signs of wear indicating that many vessels had been used in daily life before interment.

    • For instance, some painted vases displayed attrition and wear, suggesting contents that included fermented liquids.

Qijiaping Cemetery

  • Manufacturing and Use-Alteration Analysis:

    • Small two-handled vases showed manufacturing marks indicating care in production, with varied surface treatment applications.

    • Cord-marked jars exhibited substantial use-alteration due to cooking applications, suggesting a primary use for daily food preparation.

    • Trumpet-mouth vases presented diverse characteristics, including variations in decoration techniques without significant internal use alterations.

Discussion

  • Patterns of Production:

    • Results indicate diverse production techniques and the sharing of knowledge and skills among potters within the communities.

    • The visible manufacturing marks and variation suggest that the vessels were produced by multiple groups, reflecting a dynamic local pottery tradition.

  • Vessel Use in Mortuary Practices:

    • Many vessels deposited in graves were previously used, highlighting that mortuary contexts occasionally repurposed daily life objects.

    • Analysis reveals that while some vessels may serve an elite status narrative in funerary settings, the overall situation suggests social norms surrounding mortuary practices stress communal relationships over competitive displays of wealth.

Conclusions

This study emphasizes the critical importance of examining manufacturing marks and use-alterations in ceramic analysis. Such scrutiny of mortuary pottery provides insightful data regarding cultural practices and the social constructs surrounding death in ancient China, challenging assumptions based solely on typological classifications.

Acknowledgments

  • Research funding was provided by various organizations, including the National Science Foundation and the Fulbright Foundation. Special thanks were given to collaborators and institutions that facilitated the research process, including the Gansu Institute of Archaeology and the Gansu Provincial Museum.

References Cited

Selected References

  • Allard, F. (2002). Mortuary ceramics and social organization in the Dawenkou and Majiayao cultures. Journal of East Asian Archaeology 3(3–4):1–22.

  • Appadurai, A. (1981). Gastro-politics in Hindu South Asia. American Ethnologist 8(3):494–511.

  • Crown, P.L., et al. (2012). Ritual black drink consumption at Cahokia. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 109(35):13944–13949.

  • Liu, L., & Chen, X. (2012). The Archaeology of China: From the Late Paleolithic to the Early Bronze Age. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.