The Yangshao culture () was a Neolithic culture that existed extensively along the central Yellow River in China. The Yangshao culture is dated from around 5000 BC to 3000 BC. The culture is named after Yangshao, the first excavated representative village of this culture, which was discovered in 1921 in Henan Province. The culture fluorished mainly in the provinces of Henan, Shaanxi and Shanxi.

The Yangshao people cultivated millet extensively; some villages also cultivated wheat or rice. They kept such animals as pigs and dogs, as well as sheep, goats, and cattle, but much of their meat came from hunting and fishing. Their stone tools were polished and highly specialized. The Yangshao people may also have practiced an early form of silkworm cultivation.

The Yangshao culture is well-known for its painted pottery. Yangshao artisans created fine white, red, and black painted pottery with human facial, animal, and geometric designs. Unlike the later Longshan culture, the Yangshao culture did not use pottery wheels in pottery-making. Excavations found that children were buried in painted pottery jars.

The archaeological site of Banpo village, near Xi'an, is one of the best-known sites related to Yangshao culture.

See also

• Dawenkou culture
• Majiayao culture

References

• Liu, Li. The Chinese Neolithic: Trajectories to Early States, ISBN 0521811848

Archaeological cultures | Chinese neolithic cultures | Henan | Shaanxi | Shanxi | Stone Age | Xi'an

Yangshao-Kultur | Yangshao | 仰韶文化