Yellow River Late Neolithic

expand_more Description

The Yellow River Late Neolithic Tradition occurred from 5000–3900 BP in China around the central and lower Yellow and Yangtze River valleys. The people were sedentary intensive agriculturalists, mainly relying on millet or rice and livestock, with some hunting, gathering, and/or fishing. A two- to four-tiered settlement hierarchy is evidence of complex chiefdoms. Political and social inequality increase during the period, with elites controlling access to particular jade and ceramic products, and some living in what appear to be palaces. Interpersonal violence, warfare and human sacrifice also increased, although the latter remained rare.

Identifier

Region

• Asia

Subregion

• East Asia

Subsistence Type

• horticulture to intensive agriculture

Countries

• China