The Dawenkou and Yangshao Periods

Abstract

The model of social change outlined in Chapters 3 and 4 predicts that competition over food and prestige containers was an important process contributing to increase in social and economic inequality during the late Neolithic period of northern China. By the early Bronze Age, labor-intensive and ritually important food vessels played a key role in the political economy. Competitive feasting for acquisition of labor and resources by descent groups caused greater demand for labor-intensive ceramics and diversification in production. There should be evidence for greater differentiation over time in prestigious ceramics in graves and in residential contexts with respect to quantities and varieties of vessels. As social inequality increases, more individuals would have the right to display conspicuous consumption of special foods and containers. Individual households ought to rely increasingly more on personal networks to acquire goods and labor. As social competition increases, access to food and prestigious ceramic vessels should become more restricted.