The Discovery That Rewrote Shang Dynasty Chronology

In the autumn of 1955, archaeologists excavating the Nanguanwai site south of Zhengzhou made a groundbreaking discovery that would challenge existing understandings of Shang Dynasty chronology. The excavation revealed three distinct cultural layers within what was initially identified as the “Shang Dynasty stratum.” The lowest layer, exhibiting artifacts markedly different from those found at the Erligang Lower Layer, prompted researchers to designate this unique assemblage as the “Zhengzhou Shang Dynasty Nanguanwai Layer” in preliminary reports. By 1973, this classification evolved into the “Zhengzhou Shang Dynasty Nanguanwai Period” in formal publications, establishing it as a cultural phase predating the Erligang Lower Layer.

Scholarly Debates: Origins and Cultural Identity

The academic community remains divided about the origins and nature of these cultural remains. One school of thought suggests the Nanguanwai Period represents migrants from the Luodamiao Period who settled near Zhengzhou’s southern pass, potentially originating from the mid-reaches of the Huai River. Another perspective argues that the middle and lower layers of Nanguanwai actually constitute a single continuous deposit within a large defensive ditch, contemporary with Erligang’s H9 unit. Proponents of this view identify these remains as the “Nanguanwai Type” of pre-Shang culture, left by the earliest Shang people in Zhengzhou.

Decoding the Middle Layer: A Shang Cultural Stronghold

Analysis of stratigraphic relationships in excavation area C5T95 reveals that while the middle and lower layers share similar soil composition, they remain distinguishable. The massive ditch – measuring 2.5-4 meters wide, 2.15-3.15 meters deep, and 34 meters long in excavated sections – would have required significant time to fill naturally.

The middle layer’s cultural assemblage, best represented by the undisturbed H62 pit, includes:
– 4 li tripods
– 1 jia vessel
– 2 deep-bellied basins
– 1 medium-bellied basin
– 1 vessel cover
– 1 large-mouthed zun
– 1 gui food container

With the exception of two vessels showing similarities to lower layer artifacts, this collection represents classic early Shang gray pottery with cord markings. The distinctive features of the li tripods and jia vessels suggest a date corresponding to the early phase of Zhengzhou’s early Shang Period II.

The Enigmatic Lower Layer: A Cultural Melting Pot

The lower layer presents a fascinating cultural mosaic. Three characteristic li tripods show:
– T87:132: Thick-walled brown sandy ware with rounded lips and prominent shoulder angles
– T87:58: Thick-walled “black-brown” sandy ware with squared lips
– T86:53: Thick-walled “brown-gray” sandy ware with rolled edges

These differ significantly from middle layer specimens, though showing some similarities to H62:19. The lower layer’s jia vessels (T86:52) feature wide mouths, high necks, and splayed legs, contrasting with the middle layer’s smaller-mouthed, round-bellied versions.

Notably, brown pottery dominates the lower layer (over 80% of finds), creating the most striking difference from typical early Shang culture while simultaneously linking it to Yueshi culture traditions. The direct placement of xian steamer legs on the ground mirrors Yueshi techniques, while plain, rimless shallow basins show Erlitou cultural influence.

Related Discoveries: The Bigger Picture

Similar reddish-brown pottery has appeared at multiple Zhengzhou sites:
1. Erligang (1950s): Isolated finds initially considered “another system”
2. Electric School H6 (1980s): 42.84% reddish-brown pottery within early Shang context
3. Chemical Factory H1 (1990): 60% reddish-brown pottery with clear Yueshi characteristics

Detailed analysis reveals these aren’t pure Yueshi imports but hybrid forms blending:
– Yueshi cultural elements
– Xiaqiyuan cultural traditions
– Luowangfen-Songyao type features
– Early Shang technological traits

Cultural Dynamics in Early Shang Zhengzhou

The early Shang period in Zhengzhou presents a complex cultural landscape:
– Erligang: Dominant Shang culture with minimal foreign influence
– Nanguanwai/Chemical Factory: Strong Shang-Yueshi cultural fusion
– Luodamiao: Continuing Erlitou culture absorbing external elements

This pattern vividly reflects the multicultural coexistence during the Shang dynasty’s founding era, with various groups – Shang, Yi, and Xia peoples – inhabiting the region. Over time, these diverse elements gradually merged, with Xiaqiyuan cultural factors becoming dominant, ultimately forming the rich, unified mature phase of early Shang culture.

Legacy and Modern Significance

The Nanguanwai discoveries continue to reshape our understanding of early Chinese civilization by:
1. Providing concrete evidence of cultural integration processes
2. Demonstrating the complex ethnic landscape during state formation
3. Offering insights into technological exchanges between bronze age cultures
4. Challining traditional linear models of cultural development

Ongoing research at Zhengzhou’s archaeological sites promises to further illuminate this crucial transitional period in Chinese history, when diverse cultural traditions coalesced to form one of the world’s great ancient civilizations.