writing
Early Civilizations
8/25/21
ARTH120Z
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Key Points
How do we know how advanced the Indus Valley Civilization has been, based on archeological evidences?
How do we “read” prehistorical artworks?
The material culture & technologies of prehistorical China, especially earthenware and jade.
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The Indus Valley Civilization
Thrived 2,600-1,900 BCE
“Discovered” in the 1920s during archaeological excavations
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Mohenjo-daro, aerial view & partial city plan, 2600-1900 BCE
How does the city plan look like? Does it look planned, or does it look like it developed organically?
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Mohenjo-daro. The Great Bath in the front, the granary mound in the background
What does the significance of the granary mound in the city planning tell us?
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The “Great Bath,” Mohenjo-Daro. 11.88 x 7 m, Depth 2.43m
How do we know its primary function?
What was this “Bath” used for?
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Remains of arched roof for underground freshwater duct
Household privy
Chute outlets in wall for conveying bath water or rain runoff to municipal drainage conduits
Large sewer lines
Really good plumbing system…
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Uniformly sized bricks made in organized workshops
A standardized system of weights
What do these tell us about the society at the time?
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Stamp seals excavated from Mohenjo-daro
Material: steatite
What can these artifacts tell us about the society that made and used them?
What can be their function?
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Seal with “yogi”/Shiva-Pashupati. Mohenjo-daro, 2100-1750 B.C.E.
Proto-Shiva?
(Shiva as Mahesha, 10th century CE)
Master of Animals?
(pendant, 1700-1500 BCE)
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Figurines of a mother goddess, c. 2600–1900 BCE
Material: terracotta
Likely a kind of votive offering to the goddess
Certain physical features are exaggerated. Why?
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Figurine of a “Dancing Girl.” Copper alloy, H: 10cm. 2600-1900 B.C.E.
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Torso of a “Priest-King.” Steatite, H: 17.5cm. Mohenjo-daro, 2600-1900 B.C.E.
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Neolithic period China
c. 5000-2000 BCE
Many distinctive cultures developed simultaneously, mostly along waterways
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Conjectural drawing of Banpo Village (4700-3600 BCE, excavated in 1953), Shaanxi. Yangshao culture
Why these materials?
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Bowl with slip decoration of men’s heads and fish. Diam. 44.5cm. Banpo, Shaanxi. Yangshao culture
Earthenware painted with slip
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Deep vessel, Middle Jomon period (c. 3500-2500 BCE), Japan
Comb-pattern pottery, Neolithic period, Korea
Bowl with slip decoration of men’s heads and fish. Diam. 44.5cm. Banpo, Shaanxi. Yangshao culture
Neolithic potteries—possible function?
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Head/Mask, Hongshan culture, c. 4000-3000 BCE. Unbaked earthenware and jade. H: 22.5 cm
Excavated with various jade artifacts in a tomb complex
Naturalistic features, unclear function
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Jadeite
Nephrite
Jade—”the fairest of stones”
Most advanced jade-working technology in the Hongshan and Liangzhu cultures
A luxury material. Why?
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Disk (bi), Liangzhu culture (excavated 1936), ca. 2700–2500 BCE. Nephrite. Diam. 21.3 cm.
Square Tube (cong) with masks, Liangzhu culture, China. ca. 3300-2250 BCE. Nephrite. H. 47.2cm
“Pig-dragon.” Hongshan culture (excavated 1935). Nephrite. H: 11cm
What can these jade artifacts tell us about the tombs in which they were excavated?
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Animal Mask Pendant, Liangzhu culture, 3000-2000BCE
Knife with mask motif, Longshan culture, 3000-1700BCE
Jade was everywhere! At least for the wealthy…
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Cong from tomb 12 of Fanshan, Zhejiang province, Liangzhu culture, 3600-2000 BCE
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