Study On Tombs Of Bronze Age In Chang-bai Mountains And Their Stretches

During about 2000 years from the early Xia dynasty to the entering of Yan culture, a culture circle which was relatively isolated but often keeping in touch with outside gradually formed in the eastern part of Northeast China. This paper takes the tombs of Bronze Age found in Chang-bai mountains and their stretches as the study object, analyzes systematically the archaeological tomb materials of this spatio-temporal coverage, probes into the dynamic distribution and the evolving rules of these tombs of bronze age in Chang-bai mountains and their stretches based on the classification, grouping and staging of these materials, aims for promoting further researches on correlative archaeology issues in this field.This paper consists of six chapters:Chapter one is the introduction. In this part, the author defines the spatio-temporal scope of this paper. The spatial dimension is limited to mountainous and hilly area of Chang-bai mountain chain and its stretch-Qian mountain system in the east of northeastern China. The time range is from Xia dynasty to middle and late warring state period. At the same time, the author also has given some explanations and statements to the significance of subject selection, writing methods and writing ideas of this paper.Chapter two is the brief history of discoveries and researches. In this part, the author shortly deduces and summarizes the discoveries and researches on the tombs of Bronze Age in Chang-bai mountains and their stretches. In addition, the author divides the excavation and study process of tombs under the above space and time scope into four development stage, and sums up the phased objectives and existing problems of field archaeology and study of each stage.Chapter three is the tomb classifications. The author divides the tombs of Bronze Age in Chang-bai mountains and their stretches into eight kinds according to the burial environment and features of burial equipments. The kinds are as follows: catacombs, sarcophagus tombs, dolmen tombs, stone mound tombs, big stone cover tombs, stone seal tombs, earth pit and burial urn tombs. Besides, the author separately analyses and concludes the distribution and features of each kind of tombs, then divides further each kind into different types, sub-types or patterns.Chapter four is grouping and staging tombs. According to the cultural configuration and articles combination of burial accessories of these tombs, there are six groups( A, B, C, D, E, F) tombs of Bronze Age in this area. The author divides earthenware pots from these groups into different types and patterns by their similarities and discrepancies, and takes the typology as the main research method, puts the staging and era of each group tombs into separate discussion in terms of variation of pottery characteristics, and thus establishes the age frame of the tombs of Bronze Age in Chang-bai mountains and their stretches, moreover, concludes with three development stage of these tombs within this spatio-temporal scope: First, Xia and Shang period; Second, period from Western Zhou to Spring &Autumn; Third, Warring States period.Chapter five is about characteristics and features of tomb groups and phase. In this part, group characteristics and phase characteristics of each kind of tombs are respectively summarized and analyzed. The author here further discusses dynamic distribution and evolution of tombs of Bronze Age in Chang-bai mountains and their stretches. After the group B and D of the central cemetery which had single connotation and was relatively isolated had formed, the marginal cemetery group C and F which had complicated connotation and was relatively developed appeared nearby and encircled the central cemetery. Inosculated Group B and C became the source of the early Koguryo culture, and inosculated Group D and F became an important part of Puyo culture.Chapter six is the conclusion. In this part, the author summarizes three conclusion in this paper and points out the deficiency and some problems requiring in-depth study in the future.