Settlement And Society In The Loess Highland During The Period Of Late Shang Dynasty

A large number of bronze remains have been found in northwest Jin and north Shaanxi,which belongs to the Loess Highland during Late Shang Dynasty.These remains contain different style artifacts,the northern style,Guanzhong style and local characteristics of the artifacts.The mixture of styles shows that the bronze civilization in the region has been influenced by many directions in the process of formation.The bronze civilization of the Loess Highland is influenced by the culture from Shang Dynasty,but it is still independent.According to the excavation,the boundary is the Luliang Mountains.the Loess Highland is influenced by the surrounding culture,especially the Shang Dynasty,and bronze shows the influence.According to the YInxu style bronze found in the Loess Highland,the whole bronze can be divided into four period.The first period is from Pangeng to Xiaoyi,the sites are Xinzhou Liansigou^ Zichang Baishutai?Daning Taide?Xixian Pangcun.The second period is Wuding period,the sites are Shilou Hejiaping?Shilou Houlanjiagou?Yonghe Xiaxinjiao?Qingjian Zhangjiagua?Zizhou Guangwangcha.The third perion is from Zugeng to Kangding,the sites are Shilou Erlangpo?Shilou Zhujiayu?Shilou Taohuazhuang?Shilou Pipayuan?Qingjian Zhaigou?Yanchuan Tugang?Yanchang Oil Mine?Yanchuan Huajiayuan?Yanhcuan Yongdou?Yonghe Yulin?Yonghe Ketuo.The last period is from Wuyi to Dixin,the sites are Baode Linzeyu?Suide Yantou?Suide Hourenjiagou?Chunhua Heidouzui?Ganquan Simaozi?Ganquan Yanjiagou?Jixian Shangdong?Liulin Gaohong?Qinjian Jiejiagou?Qingjian Siyan?Shilou Caojiayuan?Wubu Fengjiamao?Yanchuan Liujiayuan?Yanchuan Qutou?Youyu Dachuan?Zichang Lijiata.The settlement pattern of the Loess Highland is showing a changing trend.The first period,these sites are very scattered.The second phase,the number of bronze sites and the distribution range increased,settlements distributed a little west.The third phase,the number and the type of bronze on the northwest Shanxi part are prosperous.The distribution of the settlements extended to east,and are close to the foot of the Luliang Mountains.In the fourth period,the settlement pattern has changed greatly.The location of the settlement is westwards development,the northwest Shanxi is abandoned..The change of the settlement pattern of the Loess Highland is closely related to the movement of the sites east of the Luliang Mountains.In the first period,the distribution of bronze in the Loess Highland is close to the Luliang Mountains.Obviously,in the early stage of cultural development,in order to facilitate the exchange with the developed Shang Dynasty,the location of the site is close to it.The second period,the Shang Dynasty is more powerful,the Loess Highland is squeezed.The third period,the control of the Shang Dynasty over the region next to the Loess Highland is weakened,bronze sites in the Loess Highland migrated eastward,bronze development also entered the boom period.The fourth period,the control of Shang Dynasty once again entered a strong period,lead Loess Highland group to give up the Shanxi side of the community,the site group westward,Qingjian Xinzhuang became the center of the sites.The sites of the Loess Highland can be divided into several groups,according to the grade,quantity and combination of bronzes.The third stage,the center is the site Shilou Erlangpo?Shilou Taohuazhuagn?Yanchuan Huajiayuan,the third level of the settlement is striped distribution between the two center sites,the fourth level settlement are around the high-grade settlement.The fourth period,Qingjian Xinzhuang is the center,the low grade settlement surrounds the center.The fourth period,in the Loess Highland,there is a multi-level settlement facing the southeast.The distribution of third and fourth period is a differenct,the third phase of the central site may pay more attention to traffic factors,the fourth high-level sites may be more emphasis on defense factors.The change of the settlement pattern of the bronze group in the Loess Highland is roughly corresponding to the oracle bone inscriptions.As the number of bronzes found between Anyang and the Luliang Mountains is not very rich,the types and quantities of bronzes found in the Loess Highland are better.The prosperity of the Loess Highland and its east neighbor is reverse correlation,it is speculated that the Loess Highland access to bronze,there is also the possibility of peace.The oracle bone inscription "ce" also confirms this point.Shilou Erlangpo found battle axe that is similar to Yinxu?Dingzhou Beizhuangzi?Luoshan Tianhu?Jinan Daxinzhuang,indicates the Loess Highland may have a direct referendum appointment from the Shang Dynasty.The bronze civilization of the Loess Highland areas is influenced by the surrounding Archaeology culture.Because of the lack of copper and tin mineral,there is no tradition of casting bronze,so we believe that the bronze civilization of the Loess Highland is formed on the basis of communication.In the Loess Highland,the owners of the Yinxu style bronze weapons show higher grade,indicating the affirmation of the Shang Dynasty.At the same time,the north style and the mix style weapons appear in the low level of the site.The use of bronze weapons reflects that the level depended on combination and the quantity of the bronze is feasible.In the later Shang Dynasty,the Guanzhong style Gui shows that the influence of the Shang Dynasty weakened and the influence from Guanzhong is enhanced.The transformation of bronze is limited to use tubular socket,animal sculpture,thin relief lines and small bumps.Celts,adzes and chisels are popular in this area.It can be speculated that the Loess Highland has developed forest industry.All in all,the northwest Shanxi and north Shaanxi part of the Loess Highland during the late Shang Dynasty has been influenced by the surrounding culture,especially the Shang Dynasty,but this area is still independent.From the perspective of bronzes,the Loess Highland is strongly influenced by the surrounding culture,for n the course of the settlement pattern of the Loess Highland is unstable,it follows the changes of the surrounding culture.The Loess Highland is located in a crossroad,constantly influenced by the multiple culture,and ultimately shows a variety of culture.