Longshan culture (3200-1850 B.C.)

Longshan culture is a general term for a group of neolithic cultures that gradually supplanted the Yangshao culture in the north and center-eastern regions, and flourished along the eastern seacoast, in the period between 3200 and 1850 BC. The name "Longshan" is taken from an archaeological site in Shandong, discovered between 1931 and 1932. Longshan culture is characterized by sophisticated pottery shapes that lack painted designs and an increased use of carved jade. Some of the designs of Longshan culture suggest that it was the forebear of the Shang dynasty.

Kwang-chih Chang, "China on the Eve of the Historical Period," in The Cambridge History of Ancient China: From the Origins of Civilization to 221 BC (Cambridge: Cambridge University, 1999), 59-65.

Last Modified: September 21, 2004