UCL Discovery
UCL home » Library Services » Electronic resources » UCL Discovery

The Neolithic ceremonial complex at Niuheliang and wider Hongshan landscapes in north-eastern China

Zhang, H; Bevan, AH; Guo, D; (2012) The Neolithic ceremonial complex at Niuheliang and wider Hongshan landscapes in north-eastern China. Journal of World Prehistory Green open access

[thumbnail of Zhangetal13_postprint.pdf]
Preview
PDF
Zhangetal13_postprint.pdf
Available under License : See the attached licence file.

Download (36MB)

Abstract

This paper reviews the current evidence for settlement patterns and ceremonial activity amongst Hongshan Neolithic groups in north-eastern China, with particular attention to the well-known ceremonial site at Niuheliang. In particular, we consider the locational properties of Hongshan ceremonial sites in their wider landscape settings, arguing that such sites are a chronologically late stage of Hongshan ceremonial investment and that, within these broad complexes, the most impressive architecture and portable goods come from an especially late phase of activity. These more impressive localities were also particularly privileged places in terms of their access to major routes through the landscape, specific kinds of local geology and integrated patterns of visibility. In contrast to more loosely organized, similarly-sized Hongshan residential sites, it is clear that ceremonial centres such as Niuheliang (and, within these, certain important sub-localities) were key mechanisms for social, political and regional stratification around roughly the mid 4th millennium BCE.

Type: Article
Title: The Neolithic ceremonial complex at Niuheliang and wider Hongshan landscapes in north-eastern China
Open access status: An open access version is available from UCL Discovery
UCL classification: UCL
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL SLASH
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL SLASH > Faculty of S&HS
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL SLASH > Faculty of S&HS > Institute of Archaeology
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL SLASH > Faculty of S&HS > Institute of Archaeology > Institute of Archaeology Gordon Square
URI: https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/1380287
Downloads since deposit
1,787Downloads
Download activity - last month
Download activity - last 12 months
Downloads by country - last 12 months

Archive Staff Only

View Item View Item