Taosi Archaeological Site

陶寺

China · Shanxi

Ancient cityExcavation ongoing
Approximate period2,300 BCE — 1,900 BCELate Neolithic See on the map ↓

In brief

Taosi is a walled Late Neolithic settlement covering approximately 280 hectares. Its palace buildings, residences and burial finds are used to study social differentiation.

What was found?

  • 1Rammed-earth palace foundations

    The foundations of large palace buildings were uncovered. The contrast between imposing buildings and more modest dwellings allows social hierarchy to be studied.

  • 2Painted pottery

    Painted ceramic vessels are among the Taosi finds. They document the settlement's approach to decoration and pottery production.

  • 3Turquoise-inlaid bracelets

    Personal ornaments decorated with turquoise. They show the presence of fine craftsmanship combining different materials at Taosi.

  • 4Bronze bells

    Metal sound-producing instruments among the Taosi finds. They are important for investigating the settlement's musical and ceremonial life.

  • 5Jade axes

    Axe-shaped artifacts made from worked jade. They are among the important examples of stoneworking at Taosi.

What does it point to?

Millet farming, animal husbandry, and various crafts supported a large settlement at Taosi. Differences between dwellings show social inequality, while, according to researchers, drums and stone bells found in specific arrangements indicate an organized practice of ceremonial music.

What did it teach us?

  1. Showed that large palace buildings and modest dwellings existed within the same settlement in the Late Neolithic period.
  2. Documented that agriculture and animal husbandry were practiced alongside various specialized crafts.
  3. According to researchers, provided new evidence for understanding early state formation and regulated ceremonial music.

Images

Painted Pottery Pot Taosi Culture, Early Period (2,300—2,100 BCE) Excavated at the Taosi S
Fo Guang Shan 佛光山 · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Painted Pottery Plate with Dragon Design Taosi Culture, Early Period (2,300—2,100 BCE) Exc
Fo Guang Shan 佛光山 · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Record

Culture
Taosi phase of the Longshan culture
Team / historical
Institute of Archaeology, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences; Gao Jiangtao
Coordinates
35.8906°, 111.4972°

Sources

  1. english.www.gov.cn
  2. en.tju.edu.cn
  3. en.wikipedia.org

Nearby excavations


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12.000

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