Liangzhu – a late Neolithic jade-yielding culture in southeastern coastal China

Abstract

From the beginning, the culture-history of the Chinese archaeological sequence has had its own character. And in a country and a civilization so vast, regional variation can also be on a grand scale. An examination of a late Neolithic culture on the southeastern coast finds jade in early contexts that give a new perspective to the traditional – and later – importance jade bears in the dynastic northern sequence.

Craft Production and Social Change in Northern China

“…Graves at Lingyanghe in eastern Shandong contain decorative items (chan shovel, huan ring, zhui plummet) described as being made from a milky white stone, likely a pseudojade, in addition to some jade items (zhui plummets and zuxingqi, called ji hairpins). Another form of fine stone object found in late Dawenkou graves is the cong tube, much shorter and less finely made than in the Liangzhu area further south (see Huang 1992). Other examples may be found at the Hangtou and other sites in eastern Shandong (Su et al 1993;Yang 19%).…”

WITHDRAWN: Can Traditional Chinese Medicine provide insights into controlling the COVID-19 pandemic: Serpentinization-induced lithospheric long-wavelength magnetic anomalies in Proterozoic bedrocks in a weakened geomagnetic field mediate the aberrant transformation of biogenic molecules in COVID-19 via magnetic catalysis

“…Many Neolithic-derived Indigenous Knowledge posits that severe geophysical-geologic perturbations and associated rock minerals play a significant role in human health ( Dashtdar et al, 2016 ; Hewlett and Amola, 2003a ; Hewlett and Amola, 2003b ; Darvill, 2016 ; Franks, 2016 ). Indeed, Neolithic-Traditional Chinese Medicine in the Hemudu and Majiabang-Neolithic Chinese cultures (~7500 to 5300 BP) ( Dematte, 2006 ; Wilson, 1996 ; He et al, 2018 ) in the Yangtze River basin, on the Yangtze craton (a Proterozoic craton) in Eastern Eurasia, developed the use of the calcium-ferromagnesian silicate-Nephrite (a metasomatic derivative of serpentinization-induced rock minerals ( Harlow and Sorensen, 2005 ), commonly referred to as jade) as a disease prevention device (amulet) in the mid-Holocene during the Neolithic population collapse ( Li et al, 2014 ; Dematte, 2006 ; Huang, 1992 ). Similar Nephrite-Jade-based Neolithic cultures were developed across Western Eurasia (Europe) during the Neolithic population collapse ( Gibaja-Bao, 2018 ; Terradas, 2017 ; Odriozola et al, 2017 ; Gauthier and Petrequin, 2017 ; Odriozola, 2015 ; D'Amico et al, 2004 ; Damico et al, 1995 ; Kostov et al, 2012 ).…”

“…Similar Nephrite-Jade-based Neolithic cultures were developed across Western Eurasia (Europe) during the Neolithic population collapse ( Gibaja-Bao, 2018 ; Terradas, 2017 ; Odriozola et al, 2017 ; Gauthier and Petrequin, 2017 ; Odriozola, 2015 ; D'Amico et al, 2004 ; Damico et al, 1995 ; Kostov et al, 2012 ). It is posited that Jade (including Nephrite) amulets protect the wearer against unseen nefarious forces that cause disease in thoracic organs ( Dematte, 2006 ; Wilson, 1996 ; Huang, 1992 ). Indeed, the romantic language word, piedra de ijada (from which the English word Jade is derived) translates to the stone that prevents disease in organs in the side/flank of the body (thoracic organs).…”

Identification and analysis of gemstone binding materials on imperial rank belts excavated from the tomb of Murongzhi

“…This technique has been observed on artefacts dating back to the Han Dynasty (Sun, 1994). The modification of precious and semiprecious stones has a long history in China with evidence of jades being heat treated to obtain the desired color during the Neolithic period (Huang, 2005). Similarly, the presence of wax on jades dating to the Shang and Zhou appears to have been intended to hide cracks and imperfections (Qiu et al, 2006).…”