The Dawn of a Civilization: Early 20th Century Discoveries

The 1930s marked a turning point in Chinese archaeology with the excavation of the Yinxu ruins, which unveiled the splendor of the late Shang Dynasty (c. 1600–1046 BCE). As scholars marveled at these findings, a pressing question emerged: What came before? Archaeologist Liang Siyong’s discovery of the “three-layer” stratigraphy at Anyang’s Hougang site provided the first clues. By comparing the Longshan Culture (c. 3000–1900 BCE) with Shang-era artifacts, Liang proposed that the middle layer at Hougang represented not only an earlier phase but also the direct precursor to the Shang culture of northern Henan.

This breakthrough spurred further investigations. In 1936, Li Jingdan of the Academia Sinica led surveys in eastern Henan, aiming to trace the roots of Shang civilization through textual records of Tang of Shang’s capital. While these efforts didn’t yet frame “Pre-Shang Culture” as a distinct concept, they laid the groundwork for future research.

Defining Pre-Shang Culture: Mid-20th Century Advances

The 1950s–60s saw pivotal discoveries at sites like Zhengzhou’s Erligang, Luodamiao, and Handan’s Jiangou. These findings formalized the study of Pre-Shang Culture, first termed in Peking University’s Chinese Archaeology (1960) as the cultural legacy of the pre-dynastic Shang “tribes,” chronologically sandwiched between the Longshan and Erligang periods. The 1961 publication Archaeological Achievements of New China further fueled debates, suggesting that the “Luodamiao-type” artifacts might belong to the Shang’s pre-dynastic era.

Regional Explorations: Competing Theories

### Eastern Henan and Southwestern Shandong

From 1976–77, joint teams from the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS) and Shangqiu’s cultural bureau surveyed eastern Henan, seeking links between the Erlitou Culture (often associated with the Xia Dynasty) and Shang origins. Despite uncovering numerous Longshan and Shang sites, only scant Erlitou traces were found at Wuqiang.

Later work in Shandong (1984) and eastern Henan (1987–88) revealed the widespread Yueshi Culture, prompting two conflicting views:
1. Yueshi as Non-Shang: Some argued the Yueshi Culture represented the Dongyi (Eastern Barbarians), leaving no room for Pre-Shang presence.
2. Yueshi as Proto-Shang: Others, like scholar Zhang Changshou, posited that the Yueshi’s creators were the Pre-Shang people, citing historical records of Shang’s origins among the Dongyi.

### Northern Henan and Southern Hebei

Post-1950s excavations in Hebei (e.g., Nansanqi, Xiaqiyuan) and Henan (e.g., Meiyuanzhuang) yielded artifacts contemporary with Erlitou but distinct in style. By 1979, researchers categorized these into:
– Zhanghe Type: Found in Handan and Cixian, considered the earliest Pre-Shang phase.
– Huiwei Type: Centered in Xinxiang and Huixian, seen as a transitional phase.
– Nanguanwai Type: Representing the final Pre-Shang stage in Zhengzhou.

Fieldwork in the 1980s–90s tested these hypotheses. Discoveries in Puyang and Qixian suggested the Zhanghe Type spread south via eastern Henan, while the “Baobei Type” in Hebei added complexity. However, the 1988 excavation of Songyao challenged the Huiwei Type’s classification, leading some to reclassify it as the independent “Huiwei Culture.”

Resolving the Debate: Key Findings and Modern Consensus

The 1990s brought clarity with the excavation of Yanshi Shang City, widely accepted as the boundary between Xia and Shang dynasties. This provided a benchmark to distinguish Pre-Shang (Xia-era) from Early Shang cultures.

Today, most scholars agree on Pre-Shang Culture’s existence but diverge on its identity:
– Northern Theory: Champions the Zhanghe-centric “Xiaqiyuan Culture” as the core Pre-Shang tradition.
– Eastern Theory: Looks to Yueshi and Longshan remains in Shandong-Henan-Anhui.

Recent studies emphasize that Pre-Shang Culture was not monolithic. The transition to Early Shang involved dynamic interactions with neighboring cultures, culminating in a dramatic cultural shift post-dynasty founding.

Legacy and Ongoing Mysteries

The quest for Pre-Shang Culture reshapes our understanding of China’s Bronze Age origins. By tracing artifact lineages—like the iconic li tripod—researchers piece together the Shang’s journey from tribal society to dynastic power. Yet questions linger:
– How did the Zhanghe Type migrate south?
– What role did the Dongyi play in Shang ethnogenesis?

As excavations continue, each shovel of earth brings us closer to unraveling one of East Asia’s most formative civilizations. The story of the Shang, it seems, is still being written—one fragment at a time.

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