Archaeology and Cultural Relics 2010-2

Main Contents

Shaanxi Provincial Institute of Archaeology,
New Discoveries of Survey and Excavation Conducted by the Shaanxi Provincial Institute of Archaeology in 2009   (3)
【Abstract】In 2009, the Shaanxi Provincial Institute of Archaeology surveyed, investigated and excavated a total of 179 sites. Among them, the Zhougongmiao site, Yongcheng city of the Qin State, Qinshihuang mausoleum, and Han / Tang emperors’ mausoleum belong to the project of ‘Preservation of Large – scale Archaeological Sites’. Yangguanzhai and Liangdaicun sites were honored among ‘the ten most significant discoveries of Chinese Archaeology’. The Han Dynasty tomb at Qushuhao, Jingbian country, and the Song Dynasty tomb at hancheng both included mural. The unearthed porcelain from the Lv family cemetery at Lantian includes products from all the “Five most famous kilns” in the Song Dynasty. In order to provide ideas for further research, this paper is going to briefly summarize and introduce the major archaeological projects and significant discoveries in the Shaanxi Province during 2009.
【Key words】Shaanxi Provincial Institute of Archaeology;   Survey and Investigation;  Site;  Tomb;   New discoveries

Du Shuisheng, Liu Fuliang, Zhu Shiwei, Zhang Min, Li Fei & Wang Rui,
Leossic Paleolithic Industry Discovered in Luoning County of Henan Province   (14)
【Abstract】It is a preliminary report on the result of an archaeological survey conducted by Beijing Normal University and Luoyang Cultural Relics Bureau from Dec. 2006 to Jan. 2007. This project has been supported by National Nature Science Foundation (40672106). There are 3 new Leossic Paleolithic loci have been discovered in Luoning County of Henan Province. The geographical position of three sites are respectively 111°34’ 13’ ’E, 34°23’ 0’’ N (Loc. LY03), 34°21’ 41’’ N (Loc. LY09) and 111°40’ 13’’ E, 34°24’ 31’’ N (Loc. 16). Materials remains were discovered from stratum L1s or S1 which belongs to the Middle Paleolithic Stage. 36 pieces of artifacts have been found in Loc. LY03. Only 2 lithic have been found in other two loci respectively. Quartzite is the primary raw material which can be found on the second terraces close to the Luohe River. All artifacts can be classified as follows: 19 cores, 10 flakes, 2 choppers, 2 points, 1 scraper, 1 notched tool and 5 debris. They both belong to the pebble tool industry.
【Key words】Luoning County;   Leossic Paleolithic industry;   Pebble tool

Gansu Provincial Institute of Cultural Relic and Archaeology,
A Preliminary Excavation Report on Sixiachuan Site in Zhuoni County of Gansu Province   (18)
【Abstract】The Sixiacun site is located in the Upper Yao Valley in the eastern part of the Tibet Plateau. A total of 425 square meters were excavated during 2007. Three dwellings were unearthed. The dwellings are square semi – subterranean structures with lime – plaster on the walls and floors. However, few quantities of artifacts were discovered.
【Key words】Sixiachuan Site;   Dwellings;   Qijia culture

Wang Yonggang, Bai Baorong & Su Ping,
New Discovery of Wu Lingzhang’s Stone Chamber and Epitaph of the Tang Dynasty   (20)
【Abstract】This is a report of a Tang Dynasty tomb with stone chamber and epitaph in Zhidan country, Shaanxi province. The stone chamber is like temple structure with wudian ding (hopped – roof) and incised with floral motifs, female servants and huteng dace designs on both sides of slabs and pillars. According to inscriptions on the epitaph, the occupant was named as Wu Lingzhang (AD 675 – AD 748) who was originated from Taiyuan, Shanxi, and once held several official titles such as you siyu shuaifu fushuaishi (右司御率府副率使), yincun taishao (governor of Yincun), etc. He was buried at Nanyuan of Tongwancheng, Xia state, in Tianbao thirteenth year. Large amount of officials’ grave stones including Wu surname yielded from Tongwancheng or nearby areas indicate that one sub – lineage of Wu family might have resided in the Xia state during the Tang Dynasty.
【Key words】Tang Dynasty;   Incised images;   Stone Chamber;   Huteng music and dace;   Epitaph

Wu Zhenfeng,
A Preliminary Study on the Bronze Vessel Tong Made by Neishi (interior scribe) Bofeng   (30)
【Abstract】In 2009, a bronze vessel made by neishi (interior scribe) Bofeng was found in Xi’an. The shape of this vessel is similar to other ‘gu’ wine vessel but it was named as ‘tong’. Inscriptions record that neishi bofeng was awarded with guan alcohol by King Cheng and bofeng made this wine vessel, tong, for guan ritual in order to memorize this honor. The importance of this King Kang period vessel is that it demonstrates the wine vessel which was previously called ‘gu’ should be renamed as ‘tong’ now. this new discovery can correlate the record from the chapter Guming in Shangshu (Book of Documents) and help to solve the debate about the term ‘tong miao’ in this chapter.
【Key words】King Cheng;   Neishi (interior scribe) Bofeng;   Tong for guan ritual;   Tong;   King Kang

Wang Zhankui,
Notes of Inscriptions on Neishi (interior inscribe) Bo’s Tong Vessel   (34)
【Abstract】This paper offers an explanation about the inscriptions on a newly found Western Zhou bronze vessel that is now stored in Xi’an. The basic view points are as follows: 1. This bronze object belongs to the King Kang period; 2.Bo, the owner of the ware, might have been the same person as Zuoce (scribe) Duo recorded in the chapter of Guming in Shangshu (Book of Documents); 3. Similar gu vessels should now be renamed as ‘tong’ since this term also appeared in ‘Guming’ referring to this type of vessel; 4. The name ‘tong’ might come from zutong (bamboo tube).
【Key words】Tong;   Gu vessel

Xiang Taochu,
Analysis of the Age of Bronze nao in the South China Based on the nao Unearthed from Yinxu   (40)
【Abstract】By analyzing the chronological change of morphology and motifs on bronze nao bells from Yinxu and southern China, this paper reconfirms their relations and the earliest date of nao from the south: the southern nao appeared under the influences from Yinxu and the earliest one should be later than the Late Yinxu period. Here the classification system of the southern nao is also constructed so that questions such as the date of different types of nao, the chronology of the southern nao and their distribution area can be further discussed. One important conclusion in this paper is that the date of big beast – mask nao found in Hunan province, which usually was viewed being from the Middle Yinxu period, should be pushed back to the Early Western Zhou period.
【Key words】Bronze musical instrument;   Bronze nao;   Yinxu;   Southern China;   Shang & Zhou Dynasties

Chang Huaiying,
Research on the Assemblage of the Western Zhou Zhong and Bo Bells and the Identity and Rank of Their Owners   (51)
【Abstract】To focus on the bronze zhong and bo bells during the Western Zhou period and their owners, this paper discusses the formation process of the ritual and musical system in the core region and other vassal states of the Zhou Dynasty. The gradually declined trend of owener’s hierarchy might have represented the whole development of ritual system from emergence to collapse. The assemblage of zhong bells was established in the period of King Mu, but the system before King Zhao is yet to be proved. The zhong bells owner’s hierarchy in archaeological records is different from that in ancient textual records. Hence this situation implies that the ancient texts might have been an ideal system described by the Eastern Zhou people. In addition, both the male and female used zhong bells in the Late Western Zhou period; but the percentage of female was well below than male.
【Key words】Western Zhou;   Numbers of zhong bo bells set;   Muscial System;   Identity

Ma Junxia,
A Discussion of the Origin of Bronze You in the Shang – Zhou Periods   (60)
【Abstract】There are three opinions about the origins of bronze you vessels in the Shang and Zhou periods: 1) multiple – origins of you buckets; 2) same origin of you and hu; and 3) you as a replacement for hu. Through analyzing these idea with ceramic data, this paper suggests that the majority of bronze you, guan – shaped you bucket, developed by intimating hu with two bail – handles.
【Key words】Guan – shaped you bucket;   Bronze hu vase;   Ceramic hu with two bail - handles

Guo Wu,
The Symbolic Meaning of the Obtruded Ear Decoration Bronze Fu Cauldron   (64)
【Abstract】This paper compares the ring – headed knifes and animal – headed dagger from Yinxu, North China and South Siberia during the Shang – Zhou periods to the similar deer or male sheep / goat – headed chisels from Lorestan in Iran. Such decorations and nipple ornament on the ears of fu cauldrons might be an embodiment that the northern ethnic groups used to pragmatically or abstractly represent male herbivore. This kind of embodiment reflected a kind of horn or male herbivore worship. Horns of these animals might be the symbol of eternal life – tree. Horn decorations that existed among pastoral culture would have been a tool by which Shaman used to negotiate with supernatural powers in Shamanism rituals. These decorations also might have todo with quji “bringing fortune” and pixie “avoiding evil spiri”.
【Key words】Bronze fu cauldron;   Horns worship;   Shamanism;   Horns of herbivores;   Eurasian Steppe

Jing Hongyan,
A Study on the Ritual of Awarding pan of the Zhou Dynasty from Unearthed Bronze Inscriptions   (69)
【Abstract】The ritual of awarding ‘pan’ was a religious activity in which the Zhou king awarded meat to subordinates after ancestral worship in the temple. Nevertheless, there have been long and intense debate about the identity of these subordinates. Unearthed bronze inscriptions provide substantial and reliable information to answer this controversial question. Evidence shows the marquis and other nobles who received the awards were not exclusive to the royal ji family. This represents that awarding ‘pan’ ritual was a wide – ranging social activity.
【Key words】Zhou dynasty;   Awarding scared meat;   Ritual of awarding ‘pan’

Ma Liqing & Song Yuanru,
Preliminary Research on the Bronze Mirrors Unearthed from the Qin Tombs at Youjiazhuang, Xi’an   (72)
【Abstract】By observing sixteen bronze mirrors unearthed from the Qin tombs at Youjiazhuang, Xi’an, and comparing them with the frequent phenomenon in other Qin tombs, the frequent phenomenon that mirrors were broken probably were not related to the quality. This implies that the Qin people might have intentionally broken mirrors during the funeral. This custom was prevailed in Shaan’xi and Gan – Long area from the late Warring States period to the Qin Dynasty; but it just exited in flexed – burials, which belonged to the Qin mortuary custom, in other regions.
【Key words】Youjiazhuang;   Qin tombs;   Bronze mirrors;   Breaking mirrors

Xi Lin,
Preliminary Study on the Slab stone – tombs in Mazong Mountain Area of Gansu Province   (80)
【Abstract】Found in 2004, the slab stone – tombs from the Mazong mountain area in Subei country of Gansu province represent distinctive local elements while also demonstrate some obvious similarities with those in the Mongolia Plateau and Trans – Baikal region. By analyzing the characteristic and cultural elements of the tombs from Mazong Mountain area, this paper concludes that they should be dated to the period between 200 BC and AD 0 and appeared under the influences from the Mongolia Plateau and the Trans – Baikal region.
【Key words】Mazong Mountain area;   Cultural elements of slab stone – tombs;   Slab stone – tomb culture

Zhang Shu,
Preliminary Study on Qixiao (owl) Figurines (or hu vases) Yielded from Tombs of the Han Dynasty   (86)
【Abstract】Through studying physical data in conjunction with beliefs held during the Han period, this paper tries to throw more lights on the meaning of xiao figures or vases from mortuary contexts. The author suggests that burying xiao figures or vases was not a popular practice because of their limited numbers, concentrated distribution regions and major appearance in the Western Han period. The distributed areas are various in different period. Moreover, during the Early and Middle Western Han period xiao figures were only found from mortuary contexts. Probably this situation was related to the ideas of Zhenmu (tomb guarding) or pixie (preventing evil). Later this type of object shifted to present the idea of shizang yusheng ‘buring the dead like serving the live’ in the Late Han period because the majority of this type object comprises xiao hu vases. To store stable food in xiao vases might have served the function of keeping mice away from food.
【Key words】Han dynasty;   Tomb;   Xiao figurines (hu vases)

Wan Fang,
Study on Jianquan (striped skirt) in Archaeological Data from the Jin to Tang Dynasties   (90)
【Abstract】In the history of Clothing, jianqun or jiansequn is refers to the striped skirt. According to the pictographic image of the Sixteen Kingdoms period, jianqun can be classified into four types: four, six, eight and twelve plain regions. Cutting methods usually integrated both the elements originated from the Han dynasty and other ways popular in the Western Region. The Northern Dynasty is the major development period of jianqun in which the high – waist skirt became mainstream and lasted until the Sui and Tang Dynasties. From the Northern Dynasty to Sui and Tang Dynasties, a style of skirt with dense multiple – stripes reflects both the early jianqun style in Central Plain region and the characteristic high – waist from Western Regions. This demonstrates that the clothing style during the Jin and Tang Dynasties was the result of interaction between Eastern and Western Culture.
【Key words】Skirt;  Jianse ( a section different in color from adjoining);   Types

Gong Jing,
Three Epigraphs Reflected the Deeds of Philanthropic Merchants and Idea of Personal Wealth in the Tang Dynasty   (96)
【Abstract】Three unpublished epigraphs which are collected by in the Museum of the Tang Emperor’s Market, Xi’an, reflects the deeds of philanthropic merchants and the idea of wealth: ren yiwei fu (Those who are benevolent and righteous are wealthy) in the Tang Dynasty. These epigraphs are significant in representing the progress of commercial civilization in the Tang Dyansty and providing new information for the study of business history.
【Key words】Philanthropic merchants in the Tang Dynasty;   Ren yiwei fu (Those who are benevolent and righteous are wealthy);   Idea of Wealth

Shen Jianhua,
Discussion of ‘King Wu had battle with Qi in his eighth year’ on Chu Bamboo Slips in Tsinghua University   (102)
【Abstract】Chapter “Xibo kanli” in Shangshu (Book of Documents) is one significant piece of textural record about the war between the Zhou and Li state. Whether the leader of the Zhou referred to King Wen or Wu, however, is not clear in the context. This question has been argued by the scholars since the Han dynasty until present day. The record of ‘King Wu had battle with Qi in his eighth year’ in the bamboo book ‘Qiye’, which now is preserved in Tsinghua University, throws new light on this question and supports Song scholars’ idea that it was the King Wu who fought with Li. This discovery is significant in clarifying the historical events in the Early Western Zhou era and complementing some defects in textual records.
【Key words】Chu Bamboo strips in Tsinghua University;   King Wu of Zhou;   Battle with Li state

Yang Yuzhang, Zhang Juzhong & Zan Yi,
Study on the Chemical Composition Analysis of Blue – White Porcelain from Fanchang Kiln and Reasons for Its Fall   (105)
【Abstract】The Fanchang kiln was the first Chinese kiln to produce blue – white porcelain as early as the Five Dynasties period. The chemical composition of blue – white porcelain from the Fanchang kiln was analyzed by wave disperse X – ray fluorescence spectrometry. The analytical results show that the chemical composition of porcelain body in the middle Northern Song dynasty changed obviously. The elements of Silicon dioxide (SiO2), major fluxes such as Potassium oxide (K2o) and Sodium oxide (Na2O) and color – causing elements like ferrous iron (Fe2), and Titanium (Ti) increased while Aluminum oxide (Al2O3) decreased down. To combine with the analysis of minor elements, this paper suggests that such changes should be attributed to the quality decline of raw materials during the Middle Northern Song Dynasty. This might have led to the rapid fall of this industry.
【Key words】Fanchang kiln;   Chemical composition;   Reasons for fall;   WDXRF

Chong Jianrong & Lei Xingshan,
The Idea and Method of the Archaeological Field Work at Zhougongmiao Site   (109)
【Abstract】To identify the nature and clarify the settlement pattern in the Shang – Zhou periods are the primary academic targets and purposes in the fieldwork of Zhougongmiao archaeological team. By using ‘Investigation Method of Settlement Structure’ to engage in the large – scale investigation, we drilled a large area in ‘full – coverage’ scale, excavated specific targets with multiple – methods according to their various natures, and established the ‘Zhougongmiao Archaeological GIS System’.
【Key words】Zhougongmiao site;   Field work;   Idea and method