A Preliminary Discussion on the Arrangement of Pottery at the Eastern Zhou Period Cemetery in Hongyingpan, Weining County, Guizhou

Abstract

In 2004-2005, the Guizhou Provincial Museum Archaeological Group conducted a trial excavation of the Eastern Zhou Dynasty Cemetery in Hongyingpan, located in Xinjie Village, Zhongshui Town, Weining County, Guizhou Province. A total of 26 burials were unearthed during the excavation, including 11 pottery burials. It is noteworthy that the pottery in these burials was predominantly placed around the head of the tomb owner, a phenomenon that has not yet been discussed by academics. The present study focuses on the pottery unearthed in Hongyingpan Cemetery, exploring its shape, function, decorative features, and interaction with coexisting artifacts. The analysis suggests that the placement of the pottery may reflect the local funeral concept of 'taking the head as the honour' during the Eastern Zhou Dynasty, emphasizing the connection to ancestor worship and agricultural rituals. The study also found that the common nipple decoration on the shoulders of the pottery may have the function of gender marking, which provides clues for inferring the gender of the tomb owner. Furthermore, the initial comparison of the pottery forms, craftsmanship and placement practices between the Hongyingpan Cemetery and the Shayuyingpan Class B Tomb in Zhaotong, Yunnan reveals notable similarities.The Jigongshan Culture and the Yinzitan Cemetery in Weining are also examined, leading to the conclusion that there were extensive cultural interactions and regional traditions in the region during the Eastern Zhou Dynasty. However, it is emphasized that further archaeological evidence is required to clarify the specific relationships.