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<p>Excavations at the Maoershan site in northern Fujian have revealed a significant cluster of Late Neolithic kilns (ca. 4000–3500 BP), associated with the large-scale production of black-slipped pottery, providing new insights into ceramic technology in southeastern China. This study investigates the technical characteristics of these ceramics, focusing on the distinctions between hard- and soft-textured variants. Chemical and mineralogical analyses indicate that hard-textured vessels were made from high-alumina kaolin clays and fired under carefully controlled conditions, enabled by kiln design innovations and strategic placement within the firing chamber. These technological choices suggest a deliberate response to enhancing performance and production efficiency, driven primarily by practical considerations. The findings highlight how prehistoric potters in southeastern China applied local materials and firing expertise to meet the practical needs of their communities, contributing to a broader understanding of technological adaptation in early complex societies.</p>

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Practical or prestige? Technological insights into the production of black-slipped pottery at the Maoershan site in northern Fujian, China

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2026年1月10日

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  • Ruofei Zong,
  • Wenjing Wang,
  • Lin Fu,
  • Wenpeng Xu

摘要

Excavations at the Maoershan site in northern Fujian have revealed a significant cluster of Late Neolithic kilns (ca. 4000–3500 BP), associated with the large-scale production of black-slipped pottery, providing new insights into ceramic technology in southeastern China. This study investigates the technical characteristics of these ceramics, focusing on the distinctions between hard- and soft-textured variants. Chemical and mineralogical analyses indicate that hard-textured vessels were made from high-alumina kaolin clays and fired under carefully controlled conditions, enabled by kiln design innovations and strategic placement within the firing chamber. These technological choices suggest a deliberate response to enhancing performance and production efficiency, driven primarily by practical considerations. The findings highlight how prehistoric potters in southeastern China applied local materials and firing expertise to meet the practical needs of their communities, contributing to a broader understanding of technological adaptation in early complex societies.