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Ancient Kiln Discovery Rewrites History of Chinaware
Excavation in a large ancient kiln site in southeast China's Jiangxi Province, dating back to the middle-to-late period of the Shang Dynasty (1600-1100 BC), has produced evidence with an effect featuring "rewriting the history of chinaware."
Results obtained following a two-month excavation near the end of last year in Jiaoshan kiln site of about 30,000 square meters revealed that primitive chinaware appeared some 1,000 years earlier than thought.
The site, 400 square meters of which already searched, turned out about 10 kilns of the types of clevis-shaped kilns and dragon kilns.
A clevis kiln represents the style of china-making popular in the north, while dragon kilns were more common in the southern part of the country.
It was generally accepted that clevis-shaped kilns were introduced into the south as early as in the Northern Song Dynasty (960-1127 AD). However, clevis kilns found this time were some 3,300 years ago.
Chinaware has evolved from vitreous pottery, primitive chinaware, celadon wares and finally to ripe china.
It is the first time that Shang-dynasty clevis-shaped kilns and dragon kilns were found simultaneously, said Yu Jiadong with the Archaeological Research Institute of Jiangxi Province.
Some 150 chinaware pieces were recovered and repaired, mostly three-foot vessels.
Scores of tools to make chinaware were found as well, which experts said are very rare around the world.
Characters on the surface of the tools, about 2,000, were believed to be important in study of the bronze culture in the south.
Fan Changsheng, director of the Jiangxi Archaeological Research Institute, said that he hopes comprehensive excavation of the
Jiaoshan kiln site in the coming three to five years will provide more proofs for revealing china-making history.
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