Artistic peculiarities of painted pottery of Majiayao culture

The relevance of this research stems from the desire of modern science to discover rare artifacts and unique cultural phenomena of different peoples. The artistic peculiarities of painted pottery of Majiayao period represent are a cultural phenomenon that draws attention of the scholars. The article aims to provide general characteristics to Majiayao period; recount about the emergence of Majiayao culture; describe the shape and decorative peculiarities of painted pottery of Majiayao culture.It is noted that Majiayao culture was also referred to as “Yangshao Culture of Gansu” and developed virtually in parallel with the Yangshao culture. However, there is proof that Majiayao culture emerged slightly later than the Yangshao culture. The article reveals the characteristic colors, shapes, and patterns of the ceramic of this period.Practical significance of this research lies in familiarizing the audience with the peculiarities of Majiayao culture, detailed description of the specifics of its painted pottery, and contributing to further research on the topic. The acquired materials are valuable for studying the theory and history of arts, as well as in the lectures on the visual art of China. The scientific novelty consists in comprehensive examination of the peculiarities of decorative and applied arts. Characteristic is given to the pottery works of Majiayao period, their varieties, evolution, functional features, which testifies to the traditional customs and acquaints with the exotic culture.

HUMAN RESPONSES TO CLIMATE CHANGE IN THE LATE PREHISTORIC WESTERN LOESS PLATEAU, NORTHWEST CHINA

ABSTRACTIn order to assess late prehistoric human responses to climate change in the Western Loess Plateau (WLP), we investigated 13,567 charred plant seeds and 19 radiocarbon (14C) dates obtained from 41 late prehistoric sites in the upper Wei River valley. Based on these new dating results as well as their cultural attributes, these sites could be confidently divided into four chronological phases (Phase 1: Late Yangshao and Majiayao culture; Phase 2: Qijia culture; Phases 3 and 4: Siwa culture) but a significant gap was identified at ca. 3600–3000 cal yr BP in this region. Comparison of this interval to high-resolution paleoclimate records from Tianchi Lake suggests it could be attributed to the dramatic drop in temperature at this time. Accordingly, archaeobotanical evidence with a refined chronology shows the adoption of cold-tolerant subsistence cereal grains such as barley on the NETP (Northeast Tibetan Plateau). Drawing from various lines of knowledge (chronology, palaeoclimate, archaeobotany, and archaeology), it is reasonable to conclude that, even when confronting a similar magnitude of climate change, local human societies could vary tremendously. Different subsistence strategies were brought in by the trans-Eurasia culture exchange of prehistoric times.

Stable Isotopic Detection of Manual Intervention Among the Faunal Assemblage from a Majiayao Site in NW China

Faunal remains from Shannashuzha in Minxian County, Gansu Province, China were isotopically analyzed to understand animal husbandry, and thus human subsistence strategy, during the Majiayao culture (5200–4800 cal yr BP) period. Stable carbon isotopic results reveal that only two pig samples clearly show a C4-dominated diet with a mean δ13C value of –8.5‰, which possibly indicated controlled feeding practices by human beings. No other significant manual intervention can be observed among the remaining samples, suggesting that both wild and domesticated meat sources were used at Shannashuzha. Statistically, Bos are indistinguishable from Cervidae based solely on isotopic results, suggesting that Bos may have remained in wild form during the Majiayao culture period. The presence of hare/rabbit, bamboo rat, and badger reflects the diversified food exploitation behavior.

Mid-Holocene climate change and its effect on prehistoric cultural evolution in eastern Qinghai Province, China

We studied the mid-Holocene climate change in eastern Qinghai Province, China and its impact on the evolution of Majiayao (3980–2050 BC) and Qijia (2183–1635 BC) cultures, near the important Neolithic site of Changning. The investigation focused on analyses of grain size, magnetic susceptibility, ratios of elemental contents, and pollen assemblage from a loess-paleosol sequence. The results indicate that the climate was wet during 5830–4900 cal yr BP, which promoted the development of early-mid Majiayao culture in eastern Qinghai Province. However, 4900–4700 cal yr BP were drought years in the region, responsible for the decline and eastward movement of prehistoric culture during the period of transition from early-mid to late Majiayao culture. The climate turned wet again during 4700–3940 cal yr BP, which accelerated the spread of Qijia culture to the middle reaches of the Huangshui River, including the Changning site.