Longshan Culture, 3000 - 2000 BCE

The Longshan culture was a late Neolithic culture in China, centered on the central and lower Yellow River and dated from about 3000 BC to 2000 BC. The Longshan culture is named after Longshan of eastern Jinan in Shandong Province, the first archaeological find and excavated site of this culture.

The distinctive feature of Longshan culture was the high level of skill in pottery making, including the use of pottery wheels. Longshan culture was noted for its highly polished black pottery (or egg-shell pottery). This type of thin-walled and polished black pottery has also been discovered in the Yangzi River valley and as far as the southeastern coast of China proper.  It is a clear indication that Neolithic agricultural sub-groups of the greater Longshan Culture had spread out across China.
Life during the Longshan culture marked a transition to the establishment of cities, as rammed earth walls and moats began to appear; the site at Taosi is the largest walled Longshan settlement. Rice cultivation was clearly established by that time. Small-scale production of silk by raising and domesticating bombyx mori in early sericulture was also known.

Archaeological documentation shows that the first evidence of horses in China comes from the “Longshan culture”. At Miaodigou (Henan Province), several fire pits dating at about 5000 BCE were excavated and found to contain the remains of horses. The accepted theory is that these horses were used for domestic purposes as well as for mystical sacrifices.

The Neolithic population in China reached its peak during the Longshan culture. Toward the end of the Longshan culture, the population decreased sharply; this was matched by the disappearance of high-quality black pottery found in ritual burials.

Size - 1-3/4" Tall