Geographical distribution of early gold and silver artefacts found in Northwest China and Central Asia, including Majiayuan (8th-3rd century BCE).[2]
Majiayuan (Ch:马家塬遗址) is an 3rd-2nd century BCE archaeological site in Gansu, China. The site is considered as belonging to rulers of the culture of the Xirong ("Western Barbarians"), recently subjugated by the state of Qin, who included them within the defensive wall of King Zhao of Qin, built in 271 BCE.[3][4] It is rather similar to another Xirong site about 50 km away, the Wangjiawa cemetery (王家洼墓地).[5] Majiayuan was a zone of interraction between the Chinese and their nomadic neighbours to the west and north during the Warring States period (476–221 BCE).[4]
Characteristics
The pits are oriented west-east, with stepped passageways and a catacomb, but Majiayuan also has wooden coffins at the bottom of a vertical pit.[5] Ornately decorated chariots have been found, as well as sacrificial animals, and the corpses were highly decorated with gold belt ornaments with bird patterns.[5] In the tombs, tools and weapons were installed.[5] There were li vessels with snake patterns and spade-shaped feet, and semi-circular necklaces.[5]
About 30 horse chariots with diversified decoration were excavated at Majiayuan.[6]
A special type of Barrel-shaped jug in bronze was excavated from the tomb of a Rong chief.[3]
Saka culture
The culture of Majiayuan, and the preceding Yanglang culture (杨郎青铜文化, 6th-3rd century BCE), are thought to have been directly or indirectly connected to the Saka (Scythian) culture, with suggestions of direct prenetration of Saka groups into North China. The animal style of the funeral artifacts in particular connects it to the world of the steppes.[7][8][9] In particular, the decorated chariots and many artifacts have strong resemblance with Saka objects from the Issyk-kul kurgan.[10]
Gold belt plaques in animal style found in Majiayuan M4, Gansu.[11]
Gold plate in the form of walking feline found in Majiayuan M3, Gansu.[2]
Necklace decorated with granulation, unearthed in Majiayuan, Gansu Provincial Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology.[12]
Earrings, Majiayuan cemetery in Gansu, the Warring states Period, Gansu Provincial Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology.[12]
^ abWu, Xiaolong (2013). "Cultural hybridity and social status: elite tombs on China's Northern Frontier during the third century BC". Antiquity. 87 (335): 121. ISSN0003-598X. Recent archaeological discoveries from this area, including the Majiayuan cemetery, have revealed more nuanced pictures of cultural exchange between the Chinese states and the pastoral groups to their north and west during the Warring States Period (476–221 BC). (...) The Majiayuan cemetery, however, is fundamentally different from other Qin cemeteries in terms of burial practice and grave goods, and probably represents the remains of the rulers of a Rong pastoralist group newly subjugated by the state of Qin.
^Shulga, P.I.; Shulga, D.P. (2020). "THE CULTURES OF THE EARLY IRON AGE IN CHINA AS A PART OF THE SCYTHIAN WORLD"(PDF). МАИАСП. 12. doi:10.24411/2713-2021-2020-00004. Until recently, the Yanglang culture was practically unknown to archaeologists in the postSoviet area. It did not attract "Western" researcher's attention although the materials were published there (Bunker 1997: 41—46). The situation changed after elite burials at the Majiayuan burial ground of the 3rd — 2nd centuries BCE excavation. A peculiar Animal style from Majiayuan gave rise to ideas about its indirect links with Saka culture. There were even suggestions about groups of Saka masters penetration into North China. There, these masters allegedly created wonderful decorations in Majiayuan and Xinchuangtou (M30) (Kang 2018: 410). The position of Wu Xiaolong seems to be more balanced; he pointed to the Yanglang culture funeral rite and animal style characteristic features which are clearly visible in Majiayuan (Gansu sheng wenwu kaogu yanjiusuo 2014; Yang, Linduff 2013; Xiaolong 2013). To date, the Yanglang culture is the most representative Scythian culture of the 6th — 3rd centuries in North China. Only there elite burials (Majiayuan) have been identified, and all the "triad" components are present: Animal style, weapons and horse harness. Most of the known Yanglang culture burial grounds are located in the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region southern part,as well as in adjacent Qingyang County of Gansu eastern part.
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![Gold belt plaques in animal style found in Majiayuan M4, Gansu.[11]](File:Gold_belt_plaques_found_in_Majiayuan_M4,_Gansu.jpg)
![Gold plate in the form of walking feline found in Majiayuan M3, Gansu.[2]](File:Gold_plate_in_the_form_of_walking_feline_found_in_Majiayuan_M3,_Gansu.jpg)
![Necklace decorated with granulation, unearthed in Majiayuan, Gansu Provincial Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology.[12]](File:Necklace_decorated_with_granulation,_unearthed_in_Majiayuan,_Gansu_Provincial_Institute_of_Cultural_Relics_and_Archaeology.jpg)
![Earrings, Majiayuan cemetery in Gansu, the Warring states Period, Gansu Provincial Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology.[12]](File:Earrings,_Majiayuan_cemetery_in_Gansu,_the_Warring_states_Period,_Gansu_Provincial_Institute_of_Cultural_Relics_and_Archaeology.jpg)
![Majiayuan tomb figurines.[13]](File:Majiayuan_tomb_figurines.jpg)
![The Majiayuan culture was part of the "Arc of the eastern Steppe", next to the Central Plain of China.[14]](File:Arc_of_the_eastern_Steppe,_the_Arc_(with_its_three_zones)_and_the_Central_Plains,_with_major_sites.png)
