Study On Prehistoric Adze-Shaped Stoneware In The Lower Reaches Of Yangtze River

Adze-shaped stoneware is one of the common types of prehistoric stoneware, especially in the South of China. For a long time, in the cognitive framework of stone adze, the connotation, morphology and function of adze-shaped stoneware have repeatedly influenced the implementation of related researches. But through overall inspection of archaeological excavation materials, there seems to be numerous deviations in the former cognitive outcome.Based on the excavation situation in the lower reaches of Yangtze River, the top, back and size of adze-shaped stoneware will be taken as classification standards to establish a new classification system. Study shows that, in the prehistoric lower reaches of Yangtze River, an independent evolution area of adze-shaped stoneware, the adze-shaped stoneware evolves to complexity and pluralism from simplicity and singleness.In order to adapt to the development of carpentry technology, adze-shaped stoneware has its transformation of use pattern and function realized through aberrance of its own noumenon form and the form of itself binding with handle. Adze-shaped stoneware comprises of a set of exquisite carpentry tools with various uses and functions. The development of carpentry tools and technology is the result of the resource demands of timber architectures. Besides the utility function, adze-shaped stoneware in narrow range of domains represents some kind of symbolic function.The development of adze-shaped stoneware, carpentry level and exploitive extent of timber resources in subsistence system in southeast coastal area including the lower reaches of Yangtze River and northwest inland area obviously distinct from each other, and the former area has apparent advantages, Those are the important parts of regional resource utilization and subsistence pattern differences in China.