Social Sciences in China (Chinese Edition)

No.2, 2020

Settlement Archaeology and the Social Form of Longshan Culture

(Abstract)

Sun Bo

As shown by the fruitful archaeological work on prehistoric settlements, Longshan society displays rich contents and important changes in family form, economic life, social stratification, form of polity, etc. During this period, the nuclear family rose to be the main body of the basic social unit, and was closely related to many changes in society and people's lives. Economic activity intensified thanks to trends toward specialized production and socialization, receiving support from trade networks that relied on the settlements (especially in cities that were regional centers). At that time, social differentiation emerged in terms of political power; social stratification was clearly reflected at the level of hierarchical regional settlements, and political power may have been quite centralized. Regional societies formed around cities were common. These societies took the form of the city-state polity; they had relatively clear boundaries, and remained independent of each other.