Archaeological Research On The Ceramic High-handle Bases Vessels

The high-handle bases vessels,left by the ancients,are a kind of pottery with a special shape.With the continuous accumulation of archaeological materials,the academic research,however,has rarely involved the study on it.Therefore,many aspects of the high-handle bases vessels have not been clarified such as its naming,morphological evolution,development source,function,and cultural attributes.This paper,focusing on the research of the high-handle bases vessels,aims to solve these problems and provide information for relevant researches in this field.The first chapter is the introduction of this paper.Through the comprehensive documentary analysis method,the relevant information of unearthed or collected holders is systematically sorted and integrated,and the research purpose,significance,theme and outline determined.The second and third chapters are about the typological research of the high-handle bases vessels.Based on the condition of its unearthing and the adopted archaeological typological method,the high-handle bases vessels are divided into three types,seven sub-types and fifteen formulas according to the overall shape of the pedestal plate and abdomen.Meanwhile,the high-handle bases vessels are divided into four phases and three zones in time and space to establish a space-time development framework of the holder.The fourth and fifth chapters investigate the cultural connotation of the high-handle bases vessels.By the cultural factors analysis method,cultural aspects related to the high-handle bases vessels have been explored which include the composition factors of archaeological culture,combination of artifacts in the same site,as well as the cultural attributes,functions and reasons for its evolution and decline.Based on the comprehensive study of the high-handle bases vessels,we can draw the conclusion that the high-handle bases vessels exist in specific time and region,mainly in Xiajiang area,the upper reaches of Hanshui and western Sichuan during Xia,Shang and Zhou dynasties.Besides,the high-handle bases vessels in these places tends to evolve from the bowl-shaped to the funnel-shape and then to the cup-shaped.Its shape and structure connecting from the top to the bottom are closely related to the realization of its functions.They are either for practical purposes as a holder or for rituals or memorial ceremonies as a sacrificial vessel.In addition,in the process of developing and spreading,the high-handle bases vessels,probably designed,created and then influenced by a special group of people,turn out to have migrated along almost the same route as the migrants.However,the high-handle bases vessels did not exist for a long time in history due to the instability of the tall and thin handle and the decline of technology at that time or the influence of the social unrest.It finally disappeared in the Eastern Zhou Dynasty.