Technological transmission of knowledge in Neolithic northwestern China: mineralogical and chemical analyses of Yangshao and Majiayao painted ware

Abstract

Thirty-eight Neolithic sherds from Yangshao and Majiayao period contexts were analysed via polarised light microscopy and by scanning electron microscope used with energy dispersive spectroscopy (SEM–EDX). Sixteen sherds come from the early Yangshao-period Banpo site in the Wei River Valley, east of Xi’an, 17 from the eponymous site of Majiayao and five from Waguanzui in the upper Yellow River region in eastern Gansu province. SEM–EDX was also used to measure the chemical composition of the clays and the paint (black, or in one case, red and white) applied to the ceramic surfaces. The analyses were carried out to detect differences or similarities in the chaînes opératoires of ceramic production at the three sites, in particular, to examine the clay types selected to make the three main categories of wares for which Yangshao and Majiayao are known, namely painted fine wares, burnished fine wares, and unpainted coarse wares. The results show that similar raw material selection and processing and technological choices were followed at the three sites to make both fine and coarse wares. At all sites, black paint was made by adding different mixtures of manganese and iron oxides to levigated clays, in a few cases possibly using the same levigated clay used to make the vessels themselves.