Images

A map indicating the regions of north-east China occupied by the Longshan culture from c. 3000 to c. 1700 BCE.

A ceremonial blade carved from jade by the Longshan culture of north-east China, 3000-1700 BCE. Length: 15.8 cm. (British Museum, London)

A black pottery vessel produced by the Longshan culture of north-east China, 2nd millennium BCE. Height: 14 cm. (British Museum, London)

Castelluccian Culture tomb (early bronze age, 2200-1400 BCE) excavated in the rock, with a double-room and eight false pillars on the facade, in bas-relief, finely decorated with chevron engraving, triangles, circles and dots right inside...

A detail of a roof from the Forbidden Cty, Beijing. In ancient Chinese architecture the yellow tiles, curved roof, and dragon acroteria were all typical features of imperial buildings.

This is the upper surface of the earring . The right lower circle is broken and at the center of the trifoliate group lies a single golden sphere. The cuneiform text is read vertically, from the upper surface downwards on each segment, and...

The lower surface of the earring . Six gold spheres were lost and were not replaced. The cuneiform text is read vertically, from the upper surface downwards on each segment, and it continues from right to left. One of a pair of gold earrings...

The interior hollow surface of the earring. Note how the carved cuneiform signs appear on this side and how the goldsmith joined the “lunar-shaped” segments of the earring. The cuneiform text is read vertically, from the upper surface downwards...

This is the upper surface of the earring. Note how the cuneiform signs were carved and distributed and their distance from the center. The cuneiform text is read vertically, from the upper surface downwards on each segment, and it continues...

This is the lower surface of the earring. The cuneiform text is read vertically, from the upper surface downwards on each segment, and it continues from right to left. One of a pair of gold earrings, 24 carats. Gift from Shulgi to a chief...