Unearthing the Xindian Culture: Discovery and Early Research

The Xindian Culture, named after its type site in Lintao County, Gansu Province, represents a significant Bronze Age archaeological culture in China’s northwestern regions. Swedish archaeologist Johan Gunnar Andersson first identified this culture during his 1923-1924 expeditions aimed at investigating the controversial “Western Origins of Chinese Civilization” hypothesis. His initial classification divided the Gansu-Qinghai regional finds into six chronological phases, with the Xindian phase representing distinctive pottery styles.

Subsequent discoveries in 1956 at Tangwangchuan, Dongxiang County, revealed pottery with enough variation to prompt scholars to categorize Xindian finds into two groups: Group A (classic Xindian) and Group B (Tangwang-style). Major excavations between 1958-1960 at Zhangjiazu and Jijiachuan sites in Yongjing County allowed archaeologists to further distinguish two cultural subtypes within Xindian Culture, fundamentally reshaping our understanding of this ancient society.

Geographic Distribution and Settlement Patterns

Spanning the upper reaches of the Yellow River and its tributaries (Tao River, Daxia River, Huangshui River, and upper Wei River), the Xindian Culture’s territory extended northwest to Datong and Huangzhong in Qinghai Province, reaching southeast to near Longxi in Gansu. This strategic location along river valleys provided both agricultural potential and trade routes connecting various Bronze Age cultures.

Key excavated sites include:

– Jijiachuan Site: Located on a Yellow River terrace in Yongjing, this 10,000 sqm site revealed stratified layers showing Xindian Culture above Qijia Culture remains. Excavations uncovered semi-subterranean dwellings, tombs, and 41 ash pits yielding abundant artifacts.
– Zhangjiazu Site: Near the Daxia River’s confluence with the Yellow River, this 20,000 sqm site similarly showed Xindian layers above Qijia strata. Archaeologists discovered 165 ash pits and evidence of bronze metallurgy.
– Lianhuatai Site: This multi-component site in Linxia demonstrated complex stratigraphy, with Jijiachuan-type features in some areas and Zhangjiazu-type in others, along with a separate burial zone containing 18 tombs.

Material Culture and Technological Achievements

### Distinctive Pottery Traditions

Xindian pottery shows remarkable craftsmanship and aesthetic sophistication:

– Materials: Primarily sand-tempered ware (with added shell or mica fragments) and some fine clay pottery
– Colors: Dominated by brownish-orange hues with frequent color variations
– Decoration: High percentage of painted pottery using black, white, red, and purple pigments. Motifs include:
– Geometric patterns (double-hook, zigzag, checkerboard, triangular, and wave designs)
– Zoomorphic representations (dogs, sheep, birds, deer)
– Some vessels feature white or orange-yellow backgrounds
– Forms: Characteristic vessels include double-eared basins, double-necked jars, and belly-handled pots, along with tripods (li), steamers (zeng), and stemmed cups (dou)

### Bronze Age Innovations

Metalworking marked significant technological advancement:

– At Zhangjiazu, remains of smelting furnaces with slag deposits were found
– Artifacts include bronze vessel fragments, spearheads, bells, and decorative items
– Small copper tools (knives, chisels) coexisted with stone and bone implements

### Settlement Structures

Limited excavation of residential areas reveals:

– Semi-subterranean houses (4.6-5m long) with central hearths and storage pits
– Three types of storage pits: bowl-shaped, bag-shaped (possibly granaries), and rectangular
– One pit at Heitouzui contained two human skeletons, suggesting ritual practices

Burial Customs and Social Organization

Xindian mortuary practices show regional variation:

– Tomb Types: Rectangular earthen pits (often with rounded corners) and catacomb-style tombs
– Orientations: Some tombs feature niche extensions for grave goods
– Body Treatments: Includes primary burials (extended or flexed) and secondary burials with rearranged bones
– Grave Goods: Typically 2-3 pottery vessels per tomb, with tools and ornaments (carnelian beads, bronze pieces, turquoise) placed near the head/chest
– Animal Offerings: Frequent presence of cattle/sheep bones indicating pastoral traditions

Cultural Phases: Jijiachuan and Zhangjiazu Types

### Jijiachuan Type (Earlier Phase)

Distribution: Tao River, Daxia River, and upper Wei River valleys

Pottery Characteristics:
– Distinctive double-eared basins and belly-handled jars
– Predominantly black-painted designs on reddish surfaces
– Common motifs: double-hook patterns, zoomorphic figures
– Vessel shapes: concave round bottoms, upper-body widest points

### Zhangjiazu Type (Later Phase)

Distribution: Expanded westward while contracting eastward

Pottery Developments:
– Taller, slenderer vessel profiles with maximum width lower on the body
– Increased polychrome decoration (black and red combinations)
– New motifs: abstract S-curves, stylized birds, sun symbols
– Introduction of flat-bottomed and ring-footed vessels

Chronology and Ethnic Connections

Stratigraphic evidence shows Xindian Culture postdating Qijia Culture (2200-1600 BCE). Radiocarbon dates from sites like Hetaozhuang place the Zhangjiazu phase around 1100 BCE (late Shang Dynasty). The culture’s final phases may have overlapped with Western Zhou period (1046-771 BCE).

Most scholars associate Xindian with ancient Qiang peoples mentioned in Shang oracle bones as western neighbors. The culture’s pastoral elements and geographic distribution support this identification.

Ongoing Debates in Xindian Studies

Two unresolved questions continue to stimulate research:

1. The “Tangwang-style” Pottery Question:
– Distinctive red-slipped ware with black spiral designs
– Originally considered a separate “Group B” within Xindian
– Now generally viewed as a variant within Zhangjiazu-type

2. The Shanjiayou Cemetery Problem:
– Some tombs show transitional features between Qijia and Xindian
– Proposed as an early “Shanjiayou type” by some researchers
– Requires further excavation to clarify cultural relationships

Legacy and Significance

The Xindian Culture represents a crucial chapter in China’s Bronze Age, demonstrating:

– Cultural Continuity: Its development from Qijia Culture shows indigenous northwest traditions
– Technological Exchange: Bronze artifacts reveal connections with both Central Plains and Eurasian steppe cultures
– Artistic Achievement: Vibrant pottery designs reflect a unique aesthetic vision
– Historical Importance: As a probable Qiang culture, it illuminates early Sino-Tibetan interactions

Recent discoveries continue to refine our understanding of this sophisticated northwest culture that thrived along the Yellow River’s upper reaches three millennia ago. Its legacy persists in the material traditions of subsequent Zhou-period cultures and in the ongoing archaeological investigations that bring its story to light.