2012.91.1, painted jar, low-fired pottery; 2400–2000 B.C.
Eason Eige Collection; photo by B. Bernard
Does this jar seem a bit lopsided to you? That's because the potter built it with just his or her hands. The pottery wheel probably was invented in Mesopotamia and didn't reach China until the middle to late Neolithic period.
The jar is 30 cm (12 inches) tall and comes
from the Machang phase of the Majiayao culture.
It was made in the upper
Yellow River drainage. Similar jars are shown below; one is earlier
than the other. Can you tell which is earlier, just by looking at
them? You can find out their actual ages by clicking on the images.
A second Machang phase jar
A Majiayao phase jar
To see a jar that from an intermediate phase of the Majiayao culture, please click on the next photo.
A Banshan phase jar
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