Wen Wu Shou Cang Jia

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This "Majiayao Culture Tripod Pot-Shaped Wine Vessel 2" was made during the late Neolithic Majiayao culture (approximately 2500 to 2000 BC) in China, serving as a tangible testament to the advanced prehistoric society in the upper Yellow River region. After entering the Majiayao phase, the proportion of painted pottery decreased, while the practicality and heft of gray pottery and plain pottery significantly increased, gradually revealing signs of social stratification and functional differentiation.

This vessel features an exquisite design with a tripod structure that securely holds liquids and is suitable for heating over a fire. The vessel’s mouth is equipped with a handle for easy lifting and pouring, with a short, narrow spout on the lid for ventilation, and the side opening helps in directing the flow. Although lacking painted decoration, its proportions are balanced, embodying simplicity without sacrificing sophistication. Such vessels were often used for holding wine, in rituals, and at feasts, reflecting practical life needs as well as potentially embodying the attributes of primitive ceremonies and religious activities.

The pottery of the Majiayao type reflects the technological characteristics and social structure changes during the transition from late painted pottery to the Bronze Age. This tripod pot-shaped wine vessel is a rare material evidence of the craftsmanship, rituals, and daily life of the late Majiayao culture, providing valuable insights into the diverse developmental context of prehistoric Chinese civilization.

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