Chinese Dawenkou Culture Clay Pig – The soot that adhered to the body of this object indicates that it was likely a utilitarian vessel used for heating liquids over a fire rather than a funerary item. When this pottery was acquired by us it was covered in black soot and the handle was missing. Most of the soot has been removed which revealed a decorative outline around the neck and upper body, it has also been given a replacement handle. There is a small residue of coloured pigment in the pattern indicating that it had been painted after firing.
The Dawenkou culture was a Chinese Neolithic culture that existed from 4300 to 2600 BC in the eastern province of Shandong and other nearby regions. One of the characteristics of this culture was the emergence of delicate wheel-made pots of various colours, such as red, black, grey and white.
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Pigs were very important for the Dawenkou culture. Pigs account for about 85% of the animal remains found at Dawenkou sites, and they were also buried with humans as grave goods, indicating their high status and value. Pigs were probably the main source of meat and fat for the Dawenkou people, as well as a symbol of wealth and prosperity. Pigs may have also played a role in religious rituals and ceremonies, as they were associated with bravery and fertility in ancient Chinese culture.
The Dawenkou culture was one of the earliest cultures to domesticate pigs, along with dogs, chickens and cattle, and they used them for food, trade and social prestige. The Dawenkou culture was also known for its pottery, jade, ivory and turquoise artefacts, as well as its walled towns, wooden coffins and signs of social stratification.
The colour of the clay used to make these objects depended on the local soil and the firing temperature. According to some scholars, the clay red pottery was made from iron-rich clay that turned red when fired at high temperatures, while the grey and black pottery was made from clay with less iron that turned dark when fired in a reducing atmosphere. The white pottery was made from kaolin clay that was purified and refined.
The Dawenkou potters also decorated many of their pots with geometric patterns, animal motifs and symbols that may have been related to their beliefs or writing system.
