Erlitou and the Search for the Xia

Abstract

This article places the recent literature on archaeological manifestations of the Xia in context, describes and analyzes the published data for the Erlitou typesite in some detail, and examines broader issues implicit in the debate on this contentious topic. The positivism that animates so much recent literature is linked to the Anyang excavations and the promise of scientific archaeology more generally. Particular attention is given to certain of the data from the Erlitou site—its layout, architectural features, burials, and prestige craft products (ritual bronze vessels and jades)—because these have figured prominently in most discussion of the nature and identity of the site and its eponymous culture. Broader issues are addressed, albeit more briefly, as a series of nested concepts: culture and subculture, periodization, cultural succession, developmental stage, ethnicity, and dynasty. Until the formal report of the Erlitou typesite reaches print, this article proposes a “minimal” definition of the current archaeological data, one that does not assume the historicity of the Xia.

Control strategies and polity competition in the lower Yi-Luo Valley, North China

“…The open space in front of the main halls of Palace Palace II and I measured up to 5000 and 1500 m 2 , respectively. They had the capacities of entertaining several thousands spectators at any one time (Thorp, 1991). Yet, several thousands probably were only a fraction of the population of a polity that controlled the entire Yi-Luo Valley (see below).…”

Craft Production and Social Change in Northern China

“…The traditional view, subscribed to here, is that the Erlitou period represents the emergence of states. Most scholars maintain that Erlitou sites represent the Xia dynasty, a name first mentioned in later historical texts (Chang 1983a(Chang , 1983b(Chang , 1986Thorp 1991;Yan 1997a). Erlitou sites are distributed in west-central Henan and southern Shanxi (Figure 2.1).…”

Religion, Violence, and Emotion: Modes of Religiosity in the Neolithic and Bronze Age of Northern China

“…While there has been debate as to whether or not the Erlitou site represents a capital site of the historic Xia dynasty (Allan 2007;L. Liu 2001;Thorp 1991), Liu and Xu (2007) shift the conversation to archaeologically and materially based interpretation.…”

“…The largest Erlitou site is the type-site located at Erlitou, Yanshi county, Henan. Since its discovery in 1959, the site has been extensively studied (Allan 2007;Institute of Archaeology 1999Liu 2006;Liu and Xu 2007;Thorp 1991;Xu 2004;Xu et al 2005). It is considered one of the showpieces of Chinese archaeology and is well protected from encroaching development.…”