Mee Lee

Unknown

Well

private collection

This "Longshan Culture Tripod Ceramic Vessel" was unearthed from the late Neolithic period in China (approximately 2500 BC - 1900 BC) and belongs to the Longshan culture of the middle and lower reaches of the Yellow River. The Longshan culture represents a crucial transitional period in ancient China from clan society to class society, significantly influencing the formation of later Central Plain civilizations and ancient state systems due to its highly developed black pottery craftsmanship and evident social stratification.

This vessel is a typical tripod pot used for cooking. It has a rounded body with a wide shoulder and three hollow long legs, allowing the vessel to be directly placed over a fire for heating, symbolizing cooking in primitive society. The surface displays regularly impressed line patterns, with some areas clearly showing traces from the modeling process, demonstrating the application of wheel-throwing techniques. Although it is not as exquisitely thin and dark as the well-known eggshell black pottery of the Longshan culture, this type of thick-walled cooking vessel reflects the practical needs of daily life and religious rituals.

The development of the tripod pottery, along with black pottery high-footed cups and bowls, is among the most recognizable forms of Longshan culture. It not only reflects technological innovation but also contains the beginnings of social stratification and ritual systems in early Central Plain society. This tripod ceramic vessel stands as a classic physical testament to the evolution of material life and social organization in Longshan culture.

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