Week 3Week 3 –– 25 January 201125 January 2011Week 3 Week 3 25 January 201125 January 2011

New websiteNew website

Exotics and luxuries on the Silk RoadExotics and luxuries on the Silk Road

MirrorsMirrors

New websiteNew websiteNew websiteNew website

http://silkroadarchaeology weebly comhttp://silkroadarchaeology weebly comhttp://silkroadarchaeology.weebly.com http://silkroadarchaeology.weebly.com

N l i d d dN l i d d dNo login or password neededNo login or password needed

Moodle site will continue to exist but I will Moodle site will continue to exist but I will update the new site firstupdate the new site firstpp

Gold & lapis bronze & jadeGold & lapis bronze & jadeGold & lapis, bronze & jadeGold & lapis, bronze & jade

“Archaeological “Archaeological ggcorrelates of correlates of status”status”

How do we knowHow do we know–– How do we know How do we know what was valued?what was valued?

Repetition, rarity, Repetition, rarity, restriction, restriction, elaborationelaborationelaborationelaboration

Physical properties Physical properties y p py p pof materialsof materials

Earliest accumulation of wealthEarliest accumulation of wealthEarliest accumulation of wealthEarliest accumulation of wealthAccumulation of Accumulation of possessions begins after possessions begins after sedentismsedentism

Neolithic, 10,000Neolithic, 10,000--4000 BC4000 BC

Copper and colored Copper and colored stonesstones

After 4500 BC, significant After 4500 BC, significant modification of valued modification of valued stones & metalsstones & metalsstones & metalsstones & metals Varna, Bulgaria

4700-4200 BC

Earliest accumulation of wealthEarliest accumulation of wealthEarliest accumulation of wealthEarliest accumulation of wealthAccumulation of Accumulation of possessions begins after possessions begins after sedentismsedentism

Neolithic, 10,000Neolithic, 10,000--4000 BC4000 BC

Copper and colored Copper and colored stonesstones

After 4500 BC, significant After 4500 BC, significant modification of valued modification of valued stones & metalsstones & metalsstones & metalsstones & metals Varna, Bulgaria

4700-4200 BC

Bronze Age wealthBronze Age wealthBronze Age wealthBronze Age wealth

Giza pyramids2650 BC

Royal Cemetery at Ur, Iraq2600 BC

Shang chariot burialShang chariot burial1800-1050 BC

Anyang

Anyang Tomb of Fu HaoAnyang Tomb of Fu HaoAnyang, Tomb of Fu HaoAnyang, Tomb of Fu Hao6 dog and 16 human sacrifices6 dog and 16 human sacrifices

468 bronze objects468 bronze objects468 bronze objects468 bronze objects–– 200+ ritual vessels, 130 weapons, 200+ ritual vessels, 130 weapons,

23 bells, 27 knives, 4 mirrors, & 4 23 bells, 27 knives, 4 mirrors, & 4 tigers or tiger headstigers or tiger heads

755 jade objects755 jade objects

63 stone objects63 stone objects

5 ivory objects5 ivory objects

564 bone objects564 bone objectsjj–– Over 500 bone hairpins and 20+ Over 500 bone hairpins and 20+

arrowheadsarrowheads

11 ceramic objects11 ceramic objects

7,000+ pieces of cowry shell7,000+ pieces of cowry shell

Diff t ti f h t l blDiff t ti f h t l blDifferent notions of what was valuable, Different notions of what was valuable, but much overlapbut much overlap——especially shiny, especially shiny, b i htl l d t i lb i htl l d t i lbrightly colored materialsbrightly colored materials

Very rare in prehistoryVery rare in prehistory

Trade goods on the Silk RoadTrade goods on the Silk RoadTrade goods on the Silk RoadTrade goods on the Silk Road

Going eastGoing east Going westGoing westGo g eastGo g east–– AmberAmber–– GlassGlass

Go g estGo g est–– SilkSilk–– TeaTea

–– HorsesHorses–– Fruits, vegetables & Fruits, vegetables &

nutsnuts

–– MirrorsMirrors–– Other bronze objectsOther bronze objects–– Royal sealsRoyal seals

–– WineWine–– Animal style artAnimal style art

FF

Royal sealsRoyal seals–– BeadsBeads–– Lacquer objectsLacquer objects

–– FursFurs–– Texts (e.g., Sanskrit)Texts (e.g., Sanskrit)–– Raw jadeRaw jade

–– Worked jadeWorked jade–– Noodles?Noodles?

Paper (after AD 105)Paper (after AD 105)Raw jadeRaw jade –– Paper (after AD 105)Paper (after AD 105)

By 6000 BC

By 3000 BC

By 1000 BC

By 500 BCBy 500 BC

500 BC-AD 500

Other

Feet

LegsLegs

Waist

Hand

ChestHead

Location of buried mirrors relative to parts of the human body (n mirrors = 170; n burials = 81).

Common across Eurasia:Common across Eurasia:Common across Eurasia:Common across Eurasia:Mirrors placed near the Mirrors placed near the head handhead handhead, handhead, hand

Reflective surface Reflective surface i t d t d th b di t d t d th b doriented toward the bodyoriented toward the body

Buried with both sexesBuried with both sexes

Other grave goods, grave Other grave goods, grave structure, and disposition structure, and disposition , p, pof body are locally of body are locally specificspecific–– e.g., weapons, jewelrye.g., weapons, jewelry