Analysis of information sources in references of the Wikipedia article "Shajing culture" in English language version.
The Saka culture in Xinjiang, the Shajing culture in Gansu, the Ordos complex in Inner Mongolia, and the Upper Xiajiadian culture of Liaoning, all point to a transition from mixed agropastoral to predominantly or exclusively pastoral nomadic cultures. From the seventh century onwards, objects related to improved horse management and horse riding, such as the bit, cheekpieces, horse masks, and bell ornaments, became ever more widespread and sophisticated.
The bronze objects include mainly ornaments in the animal style (eagle, deer, and dog), but also a chariot axle end. The iron production is limited to tools, such as an object in the shape of a spade, a spearhead, and a drill.
The Golden Man (possibly an image of the Buddha)
The long period of warm and humid climatic conditions from the Late Glacial to the Middle Holocene favoured the development and expansion of the Majiayao and Qijia cultures. This stable and agriculturally suitable climate was conducive to increased food production, which contributed to rapid population growth. However, the continuous aridification that began in the Late Holocene led to a decline in agricultural production and insufficient food and water supply, which hampered population growth and cultural development. In contrast, the Shajing Culture flourished along the lower Shiyang River with the retreat of the Zhuye Lake, the Xiongnu Empire established the city of Xiutu along the Hongshui River, which experienced downcutting linked to the arid environment, and a nomadic culture emerged against the backdrop of drought in the Shiyang River Basin. These findings suggest that the impact of arid environments on the development of ancient civilizations was not always negative, and that humans responded to environmental changes by changing their production methods, thus promoting continued social development.
The notable exception is the Sanjiao walled settlement in Jinchang, which has been dated between 1110–430 cal BC. Sanjiao is generally considered as "the earliest walled settlement" in the Hexi Corridor (Pu and Pang Reference Pu and Pang1990; Li Reference Li1997). (...) Sanjiao is classified as part of the Late Bronze Age Shajing Culture (1000–400 BC) based on the unique ceramics unearthed there (Pu and Pang Reference Pu and Pang1990). (...) The settlement at Sanjiao was primarily composed of portable yurts (Pu and Pang Reference Pu and Pang1990). Those portable yurts together with the piled-earth walls at Sanjiao may further evidence the dominance of the agro-pastoral economy during the time (Pu and Pang Reference Pu and Pang1990). Our AMS dates from charcoal and the previous LSC dates support the hypothesis that settlement was built during the Shajing Period (1000–400 BC), as indicated by our phase modeling suggesting that the walls of Sanjiao were built in the period of 855–797 cal BC, with the median age of 828 ± 92 cal BC. (...) During 600–400 BC, the nomadic culture diffused to northwestern China, including Qinghai, Gansu, and Ningxia (Watson Reference Watson1971; Di Cosmo Reference Di Cosmo2010). Some studies argue that Shajing Culture has its origins in Rouzhi, a typical nomadic people (Pu and Pang Reference Pu and Pang1990). (...) The presence and ubiquity of barley and broomcorn millet indicates the Shajing Culture at Sanjiao engaged not only in agro-pastoralism but also agricultural production. (...)Sanjiao is affirmed by AMS 14C dates as the first walled settlement in the Hexi Corridor. (...) It was still inhabited in 384–116 cal BC.
The notable exception is the Sanjiao walled settlement in Jinchang, which has been dated between 1110–430 cal BC. Sanjiao is generally considered as "the earliest walled settlement" in the Hexi Corridor (Pu and Pang Reference Pu and Pang1990; Li Reference Li1997). (...) Sanjiao is classified as part of the Late Bronze Age Shajing Culture (1000–400 BC) based on the unique ceramics unearthed there (Pu and Pang Reference Pu and Pang1990). (...) The settlement at Sanjiao was primarily composed of portable yurts (Pu and Pang Reference Pu and Pang1990). Those portable yurts together with the piled-earth walls at Sanjiao may further evidence the dominance of the agro-pastoral economy during the time (Pu and Pang Reference Pu and Pang1990). Our AMS dates from charcoal and the previous LSC dates support the hypothesis that settlement was built during the Shajing Period (1000–400 BC), as indicated by our phase modeling suggesting that the walls of Sanjiao were built in the period of 855–797 cal BC, with the median age of 828 ± 92 cal BC. (...) During 600–400 BC, the nomadic culture diffused to northwestern China, including Qinghai, Gansu, and Ningxia (Watson Reference Watson1971; Di Cosmo Reference Di Cosmo2010). Some studies argue that Shajing Culture has its origins in Rouzhi, a typical nomadic people (Pu and Pang Reference Pu and Pang1990). (...) The presence and ubiquity of barley and broomcorn millet indicates the Shajing Culture at Sanjiao engaged not only in agro-pastoralism but also agricultural production. (...)Sanjiao is affirmed by AMS 14C dates as the first walled settlement in the Hexi Corridor. (...) It was still inhabited in 384–116 cal BC.
The Shajing culture of the Early Iron Age. The sites of this culture have been discovered in the central part of Gansu Province (China). Seven big burial grounds and almost the same amount of fortified settlements (with walls made of compacted loess) have been excavated. Painted pottery, associated with the local tradition of Neolithic-Early Bronze Age, has been found at the early sites, but the Scythian-like artifacts constitute the core of this culture. This makes it possible to clarify the chronological limits of the culture as 900-400 BC, but probably with the later specific dates. Different suggestions have been made concerning the ethnic origins of the "Shajing people," who may have some connections with the Tocharian-speaking Yuezhi, the proto-Tibetean Qiang and Rong, or even with the Iranian Wusuns. The Shajing culture might have emerged from the interaction of all these (or close) ethnic and cultural components.
In the Bronze Age, the Siba (四坝) culture and the Shajing (沙井) culture are supposedly archaeological remains of the Yuezhi people (Guo and Chen 1989, Yang 1986). In actuality, in the Western Han Dynasty, the original name of modern Qilian Mountain in the Gansu Province was Nanshan Mountain (meaning 'South Mountain' in Chinese, 南山). Many historians have argued, however, that the "Qilian Mountain" in the Western Han Dynasty historical records is today called East Tianshan Mountain (Lin 1998). This is also supported by detailed records in the "Shiji" and the "Han Shu" (Wang 2004).
The long period of warm and humid climatic conditions from the Late Glacial to the Middle Holocene favoured the development and expansion of the Majiayao and Qijia cultures. This stable and agriculturally suitable climate was conducive to increased food production, which contributed to rapid population growth. However, the continuous aridification that began in the Late Holocene led to a decline in agricultural production and insufficient food and water supply, which hampered population growth and cultural development. In contrast, the Shajing Culture flourished along the lower Shiyang River with the retreat of the Zhuye Lake, the Xiongnu Empire established the city of Xiutu along the Hongshui River, which experienced downcutting linked to the arid environment, and a nomadic culture emerged against the backdrop of drought in the Shiyang River Basin. These findings suggest that the impact of arid environments on the development of ancient civilizations was not always negative, and that humans responded to environmental changes by changing their production methods, thus promoting continued social development.
The eastward transmission of iron technology appears to have taken a route from southern Xinjiang to eastern Xinjiang and then on into the Hexi Corridor. This view seems to be supported by finds of iron knives of the Yanbulake culture in eastern Xinjiang, as well as iron knives and spades of the Shajing culture (c.900–600 BC), which are distributed in the middle part of the Hexi Corridor (Li 1994: 501–5; Zhao 1996: 293–4).
The notable exception is the Sanjiao walled settlement in Jinchang, which has been dated between 1110–430 cal BC. Sanjiao is generally considered as "the earliest walled settlement" in the Hexi Corridor (Pu and Pang Reference Pu and Pang1990; Li Reference Li1997). (...) Sanjiao is classified as part of the Late Bronze Age Shajing Culture (1000–400 BC) based on the unique ceramics unearthed there (Pu and Pang Reference Pu and Pang1990). (...) The settlement at Sanjiao was primarily composed of portable yurts (Pu and Pang Reference Pu and Pang1990). Those portable yurts together with the piled-earth walls at Sanjiao may further evidence the dominance of the agro-pastoral economy during the time (Pu and Pang Reference Pu and Pang1990). Our AMS dates from charcoal and the previous LSC dates support the hypothesis that settlement was built during the Shajing Period (1000–400 BC), as indicated by our phase modeling suggesting that the walls of Sanjiao were built in the period of 855–797 cal BC, with the median age of 828 ± 92 cal BC. (...) During 600–400 BC, the nomadic culture diffused to northwestern China, including Qinghai, Gansu, and Ningxia (Watson Reference Watson1971; Di Cosmo Reference Di Cosmo2010). Some studies argue that Shajing Culture has its origins in Rouzhi, a typical nomadic people (Pu and Pang Reference Pu and Pang1990). (...) The presence and ubiquity of barley and broomcorn millet indicates the Shajing Culture at Sanjiao engaged not only in agro-pastoralism but also agricultural production. (...)Sanjiao is affirmed by AMS 14C dates as the first walled settlement in the Hexi Corridor. (...) It was still inhabited in 384–116 cal BC.
