Neolithic vortex painted pottery will have modern geometric patterns. Why?

Majiayao culture has generally experienced three periods of sustainable development: Majiayao, Zhongshan and Racecourse. The early Majiayao type was about 5000-4700 years ago. There are many kinds of painted pottery in this period. Pots, bowls, jars and altars are still the main ones, but pots, beans, urns and other utensils have also been extended. Pottery is based on black and enjoys white, forming a strong color style. Full-body painted pottery has increased, and indoor colors are developed. Decoration: vortex pattern, water ripple, concentric circles, grid pattern, parallel lines, frogs, birds, etc. Have the upper hand. Almost every painted pottery depicts a rolling river, expressing people's deep love for the mother of the Yellow River. In the middle of Yangshao culture, the composition of triangles and circular lines showed signs of the first round of rotation.

In the late Yangshao culture, stronger rotating elements were embodied in deformed bird tattoos, which contributed to the appearance of fluid vortex patterns. In the early and middle period of Majiayao culture, vortex patterns became the most common decoration in painted pottery patterns, which were manifested as swirls in rapids, usually around two, four or more swirls, and the swirls were connected by several streams of water, showing a cyclic, rapid and endless momentum.

Early eddies were clockwise and counterclockwise, and later they were counterclockwise, which was consistent with the direction of water eddies in real life. The center of the vortex pattern starts from a dot or a small blank circle, and then gradually increases, and the center is covered with grid patterns, cross patterns, triangle patterns, small circles, animal patterns and so on. , become the main decoration. Bottle with small mouth and pointed bottom is a typical artifact in Yangshao period, and vortex pattern is the standard decoration of Majiayao culture. The shape of this small pointed bottle is not big, but the decoration is more beautiful and colorful than the decorative patterns of painted pottery of the same size, which shows that this container may have a certain sacrificial function and is not a daily necessities.

Majiayao pottery has few lids. There are four hooks on the shoulder of this small clay pot and one hook on the lid, which is obviously designed for sealing. So, what is suitable for sealing in such a small jar? Try looking at the cover again from the top view. What can you see? Welcome to the exhibition.