Pottery circulation and cultural exchange during the mid-late Neolithic Age in the northeastern Tibetan Plateau

During the mid-late Neolithic Age, there were two regional cultures in the northeastern Tibetan Plateau, the Majiayao culture and the Zongri remains. The topic of whether or not these two cultures engaged in cultural exchange, and to what extent, has been actively debated. In this paper, 131 pieces of potsherds, 10 pieces of red clay, 13 pieces of loess, and eight pieces of fluvial sediment samples were collected from a total of 31 sites in the Majiayao cultural and Zongri areas. These pieces were compared and analyzed by means of pottery typology, XRF, XRD, and TIMS, in order to elucidate the provenance of the painted pottery, as well as the existence and process of cultural exchange. Comprehensive analysis of typology, chemical elements, mineral composition, and Sr isotope results showed that Majiayao culture pottery unearthed in the Zongri area is consistent with that of the Majiayao cultural area in terms of morphology, decoration, chemical characteristics, and manufacturing process. However, it was also found that Majiayao culture pottery was significantly different from Zongri pottery that was excavated in the Zongri area. This Majiayao culture pottery was non-local pottery and was transported from the Majiayao cultural area in the Hehuang Valley. Moreover, through correlation analysis of XRF element data, it was determined that Majiayao culture pottery from the Zongri area was more closely related to Majiayao culture pottery in the transitional zone between the two cultures, and its exchange route was mainly along the Huangshui Valley and the Upper Yellow River Valley. Cultural exchange between the Zongri area and the Majiayao cultural area was also shown to be bidirectional. During the early stage (5.3–4.3 ka BP), Majiayao millet growers transferred their pottery-making and agricultural skills to Zongri hunter-gatherers. During the late stage (4.3–4.0 ka BP), Zongri hunter-gatherers consequently became independent and formed their own cultural system, which gradually permeated back into the Majiayao cultural area.