A Study Of City Sites Of Longshan And Erlitou Age

Longshan and Erlitou age usually refers to Xia dynasty and Yao, Shun Yu period of ancient China, in which, Longshan age represents the archaeological cultures during 3000B.C～2000B.C., the absolute age of Erlitou is from 2000B.C. to 1500B.C.,but which can't include all of the cultures of surrounding areas, because the main age of some of them have entered the year of Shang dynasty.According to some archaeological materials, Longshan and Erlitou age occupies an important position in the development and change of the prehistoric cities of China, which mainly characterized by the vigorous development of the cities of Longshan age, the sustained development of the cities of Central China and the progressive decline of the cities of surrounding areas. As an important factor of the form of civilization and state, city plays an important role in the study of the form of civilization.According to the area division of the archaeological culture of Longshan and Erlitou age, the cities can be divided into six areas, such as the Central China, Haidai, Jianghan, Bashu, Taihu and Hetao areas. Also, based on the phase division of the archaeological culture, the cities of Longshan age can be divided into four phases, the cities of Erlitou age, according to their simultaneousness, can be divided into two phases. The conform of the time-space of the cities of Longshan and Erlitou age lays a foundation for the comparative study.The analysis shows that the cities of Longshan and Erlitou age have gone through a change from more to less, simple to complex and several centers to single center, which just accords with the records of the social change from a forest of nations to the establishment of the national unity of Xia dynasty. The continuity and the staged representation show the character of the civilizing process of China, which is the pattern of diversity in unity of the Chinese Nation.