Xichengyi culture

Geographical rangeGansu, ChinaDates2,000-1,600 BCEMajor sitesXichengyi, Ganggangwa, HuoshiliangPreceded byMajiayao culture (3,300–2,000 BCE)
Followed bySiba culture (1,600–1,300 BCE)^[1]
Shajing culture (800–200 BCE)^[1]
Han Dynasty (202 BCE–220 CE)^[1]

The Xichengyi culture (Ch:西城驿文化) was an ancient culture in the central Heihe River region of the Hexi corridor, from 2,000 to 1,600 BCE.^[2] It is contemporary with the Qijia culture to its southeast. It succeeded the Majiayao culture (2,300–2,000 BCE) in the area, and preceded the Siba culture.^[1]

Some of its important archaeological sites are Xichengyi, Ganggangwa (where there are also some earlier Machang culture remains), and Huoshiliang (exclusively Xichengyi culture).^[2]

The Xichengyi culture practiced bronze smelting extensively, as seen by the quantity of slabs and furnace material (adobe constructions with blast pipes).^[3] The copper ore was from the neighbouring Beishan Mountain.^[3]

• 
  Huoshiliang site, EBA 2000-1600 BCE
• 
  Huoshiliang bronze slabs, 2000-1600 BCE
• 
  Huoshiliang pottery shards, Xichenyi culture, 2000-1600 BCE
• 
  Ganggangwa site
• 
  Ganggangwa site pottery shards, Xichengyi culture, 2000-1600 BCE
• 
  Xichengyi adobe building and bronze slabs.^[3]
• 
  Xichengyi blast pipes.^[3]

References