Cultural diffusion and identity : material culture in northwest China, II and I millennia BCE
Chinese North-western Zone designates the border areas of Northern China, including Xinjiang, Gansu, Qinghai, Ningxia, Inner Mongolia, Shaanxi and Shanxi, inhabited by semi-nomadic and nomadic groups in prehistoric times. The term denotes a broad geographic horizon conceivable as a multitude of cultural phenomena sharing a common material 'language', yet inferences on ethnic affiliation have been hitherto poorly grounded and difficult to ascertain. This work attempts to clarify some of the cultural phenomena occurred in the area, through a contextualised analysis of the available archaeological material. A methodological framework placing proto-historical material culture into 'context' is first enunciated and then employed in the investigation of various aspects of material expression belonging to different 'cultural horizons', from Siba-Huoshaogou, Yanbulake, Zhukaigou, Shajing and Chawuhu, to Alagou, Yanglang and Ordos. The data thus exposed provide clues on funerary behaviour, on patterns of consumption and social constructs, on stylistic and typological variation in ceramic productions, on metals and their social role, on craft specialisations and artistic expressions. Not only bronze and pottery objects
Vigo, Laura
Cultural diffusion and identity : material culture in northwest China, II and I millennia BCE. Chinese North-western Zone designates the border areas of Northern China, including Xinjiang, Gansu, Qinghai, Ningxia, Inner Mongolia, Shaanxi and Shanxi, inhabited by semi-nomadic and nomadic groups in prehistoric times. The term denotes a broad geographic horizon conceivable as a multitude of cultural phenomena sharing a common material 'language', yet inferences on ethnic affiliation have been hitherto poorly grounded and difficult to ascertain. This work attempts to clarify some of the cultural phenomena occurred in the area, through a contextualised analysis of the available archaeological material. A methodological framework placing proto-historical material culture into 'context' is first enunciated and then employed in the investigation of various aspects of material expression belonging to different 'cultural horizons', from Siba-Huoshaogou, Yanbulake, Zhukaigou, Shajing and Chawuhu, to Alagou, Yanglang and Ordos. The data thus exposed provide clues on funerary behaviour, on patterns of consumption and social constructs, on stylistic and typological variation in ceramic productions, on metals and their social role, on craft specialisations and artistic expressions. Not only bronze and pottery objects
cultural diffusion identity material_culture northwest china bce chinese north western zone designate border_area northern china include inner inhabit semi nomadic nomadic group prehistoric time term denote broad geographic horizon multitude cultural phenomenon share_common material language yet inferences ethnic affiliation hitherto poorly ground difficult ascertain work attempt_clarify cultural phenomenon occur area contextualised analysis available_archaeological material methodological_framework place proto historical material_culture context first employed investigation various_aspect material_expression belong_different cultural horizon data thus expose provide clue funerary_behaviour pattern_consumption social construct stylistic typological variation ceramic_production metal social_role craft_specialisation artistic expression bronze pottery object