Study on the Globular-Bellied Vessels of the Zhongshan State in the Late Bronze Age of China

To interpret the manufacturing techniques of globular-bellied vessels from the Zhongshan State of China’s Late Bronze Age (770 BCE–221 BCE), experimental reconstruction was carried out. Based on the experimental results, it can be concluded that these vessels were composed of three separate components: the lid, the spherical body, and the flared base, which were integrated into a single unit through a specialized assembly technique. Specifically, the three components were first individually fabricated, the spherical body and flared base were then polished and incised with decorative patterns before being bonded into an integrated unit. Finally, this unit was combined with the lid to form a complete vessel. It should be emphasized that both the glossy surface achieved through polishing and the incised decorative patterns were fully completed on unfired clay blanks prior to firing. Integrating archaeological and ethnological survey data, the vessels are inferred to be special funeral artifacts for the Zhongshan nobility, embodying the cultural traits of northern nomadic ethnic minorities residing in traditional Chinese agricultural regions.