Mortuary Expressions of Identity and Status at the Xichagou Site, Liaoning, China

Abstract This study examines mortuary assemblages from the Xichagou site in Liaoning, China, dated to c. 200–1 bc . A quantitative analysis of grave goods from 63 burials, employing multi-dimensional scaling and k-means cluster analysis, yields several key findings. First, the graves can be divided into three distinct groups: one characterized by blue glass beads; another by bronze buttons and a greater diversity of artifacts; and a third by weapons and comparatively modest assemblages. We interpret these groups as expressing identities along horizontal and vertical social dimensions. Second, within each group, variation in the quantity and diversity of grave goods suggests fine-grained social and wealth differentiation. Third, the artifacts used for identity and status display consist largely of portable ornaments acquired through exchange across extensive geographic regions. The observed patterns suggest that intragroup differentiation and exchange networks were mutually reinforcing: as individuals elaborated social distinctions, demand for non-local luxury goods intensified, while access to such networks enabled and structured these distinctions. These findings caution against treating the Xichagou population as a homogeneous ethnic entity and instead underscore the intertwined processes of intragroup differentiation and intergroup interaction.