Archaeological Study of Pottery Unearthed from Sites in the Zuojiang River Basin from the Neolithic to the Pre-Qin Period

WU Shuang* and YANG Ning

ang Autonomous Region, China. From the Neolithic period to the Pre-Qin period, it developed into an archaeological cultural sphere characterized by distinct regional features. The river basin boasts abundant cultural remains, including Neolithic cave sites, shell midden sites, and cliff-side burials. Recent advancements in materials from archaeological surveys and trial excavations have provided new perspectives for in-depth research on cultural transformations and ethnic interactions in the Zuojiang River Basin from the Neolithic period to the Han Dynasty. Among these materials, ceramic artifacts are particularly well-suited for investigating ethnic behaviors and the evolution of social complexity within the basin. Focusing specifically on excavated finds, this study selects 213 pottery shards from sites such as Ganzhao, Baojian Mountain Cave A, Wuming Mountain, and Duchen Mountain. Through interdisciplinary analytical methods, the research reveals that the body structures of pottery unearthed from Neolithic to Pre-Qin sites in the Zuojiang River Basin display certain variations. Although specialized pottery production had not yet emerged during this period, clear technical choices were already evident in the processes of pottery manufacturing and utilization. Such technical variations in choice were observed not only between different sites but also among artifacts with different decorative patterns within a single site (Baojian Mountain Site A).