History glossary
Longshan
a late Neolithic culture of northern China marked by walled settlements, social hierarchy, and fine black pottery.
- Category
- Archaeological culture
- Region
- Northern China
- Date range
- c. 3000-1900 BCE
What it means
Longshan refers to a family of late Neolithic cultures in northern China, roughly 3000-1900 BCE. Longshan communities built larger and sometimes walled settlements, made distinctive thin black pottery, showed growing social inequality, and helped create the conditions from which early Chinese states emerged.
