Definition
The Erlitou culture (二里頭文化) refers to a Bronze Age archaeological culture that existed in the Central Plains of ancient China, roughly dated to 1900–1500 BCE. It is considered by many scholars to represent the early phase of the Xia dynasty or the pre‑Shang period.
Overview
The culture is named after the Erlitou site, located near the modern city of Yanshi in Henan Province. Excavations, beginning in the 1950s and intensifying in the 1970s, uncovered a complex of urban settlements, palatial structures, workshops, and burial grounds. The material remains indicate a highly organized society with stratified social hierarchy, advanced metallurgy, and extensive agricultural production. The Erlitou culture is part of the broader Erlitou–Erligang cultural sequence that precedes the fully developed Shang civilization.
Etymology/Origin
The term “Erlitou” (二里頭) derives from the name of the modern village (Erlitou) near which the archaeological site was first identified. The Chinese characters translate literally as “second mile head,” a toponymic reference rather than a historical name used by the ancient inhabitants.
Characteristics
- Settlement pattern: Centralized urban cores with fortified walls, residential quarters, and large public buildings, suggesting early urban planning.
- Architecture: Large rammed‑earth platforms and palatial foundations, some up to 30 m in length, indicating monumental construction.
- Metallurgy: Production of bronze vessels, weapons, and ritual objects, employing piece‑mold casting techniques that prefigure later Shang bronzes.
- Ceramics: Distinctive pottery styles, including black‑burnished ware, tripod vessels, and painted motifs, often found alongside bronze items.
- Burial customs: Elite tombs containing jade ornaments, bronze fittings, and bone or ivory objects, reflecting social differentiation and ritual practices.
- Subsistence: Evidence of millet and wheat cultivation, domesticated pigs, cattle, and sheep, and the exploitation of riverine resources.
Related Topics
- Xia dynasty – Traditional Chinese historiography associates Erlitou with the semi‑legendary Xia state.
- Erligang culture – The succeeding Bronze Age culture (c. 1600–1400 BCE) that exhibits further development of bronze technology and urbanism.
- Anyang (Yinxu) – The capital of the later Shang dynasty, providing a comparative framework for Bronze Age state formation.
- Chinese bronze casting – Technological traditions that trace their origins to early sites such as Erlitou.
- Neolithic cultures of the Central Plains – Earlier cultures (e.g., Longshan) that set the foundation for Erlitou’s emergence.