Jar with beak and handles,

early 3rd millennium BCE

early 3rd millennium BCE

Asia, China

The oval sides of the body straighten down to a flat circular base, and the back side is slightly flattened. On top is a trumpet-shaped neck with a slightly flaring mouth. Two strap handles are affixed at shoulder level set back from the front side. At the front, a small beak protrudes equidistant from the handles at mid level. Materials: a light gray earthenware with a burnished surface and t traces of red-brown pigment around the lip and on top of the handles.

Jars of this type are typical of the Neolithic Dawenkou archaeological culture in the area from central Shandong to northern Jiangsu province. Distinguished by their simple refined shapes, Dawenkou ceramics are occasionally decorated with painted color designs, which may explain the traces of pigment found on this jar. Early examples of this type of flat-back jars had taller bodies, sometimes ending in a point at the bottom. Later examples have flat circular bottoms, and the flat back becomes more pronounced. The flat back on this jar is not as evident as on many later pieces, which may indicate it is from the middle to late Dawenkou period. The light-colored gray earthenware is referred to as "white," in contrast to the black wares for which this culture is also well known. The set-back handles may have been for a strap that allowed the jar to be worn with the flat back against the body, or to be hung against a wall.