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In 1923, a small number of jade slit ring types and other piece were discovered in a bomb, primarily filled with bronze vessels, at Lijialou in Xinzheng, Henan. Not only is this archaeological find significant but it is the earliest systematically excavated site with jades in Henan province. During the 1950’s a large number of jades were discovered at various other sites and bombs. Although jades have been unearthed from tombs of Neolithic through Qing periods, the most abundant and significant in terms of historical development belong to the Shang and Zhou periods.
During the Neolithic through Qing Period, the Central Plains lacked any thriving jade-working practice that typified southern cultures, such as Liangzhu and Shijianhe, and northern culture of Hongshan.
The Yangshao Culture includes a couple of major types in Henan, such as Miaodiguo, Dahecun, Yancun, Hougan, Dasikongcun and Xiawangang. At this time jade-working increases, as is evident in the finds of jade knives, huang(arc-shaped pendant), and huan(ring) from Dahecun. Small-scale ornaments, mostly huan and huang, are also known elsewhere during the Yangshao period. At Nanyang, where the Central Plains and southern cultures meet in Henan, the Yangshao Culture thrives and absorbs influences of the Qujialing Culture.
The period during which jade-working flourished in Henan occurs during the three dynasties of Xia , Shang and Zhou. The Erlitou Cultuure dates between the Henan Longshan and Zhengzhou Erligang Cultures, and thus fits neatly with historical and literary references that identify this phase with the Xia dynasty.
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