WHAT IS THE BANSHAN ?

BANSHAN: Site of a Neolithic cemetery in the Tao River valley of China, the type site of the Banshan (or Pan-shan) culture which belongs to the western or Gansu branch of the Yangshao Neolithic. Banshan is best known for its painted pottery first found in a grave in 1923. Panshan ware is generally considered to date between 2500 and 2000 bc, but it may extend as far back as 3000 bc or be as late as c. 1500 bc (the Shang dynasty). Most are unglazed pottery urns or reddish brown with painted designs in black and brown, probably applied with a brush, consisting of geometric patterns or stylized figures of people, fish, or birds. The wares were probably shaped on a slow or handturned

wheel. The handles are set low on the body of the urns, and the lower part of the body is left undecorated – much like Greek Protogeometric funerary ware. It was an important find because of

the lack of Neolithic Chinese pottery up to 1923. A late stage of Banshan is named after the site of Machang. [Pan-shan]