Turquoise-Inlaid Bronze Plaques from the Erlitou Culture:Origin and Transmission

Abstract

This paper focuses on turquoise-inlaid plaques excavated at the Erlitou site in order to understand their origin, function, the technology used in their manufacture, and their transmission. The turquoise-inlaid plaque, a ritual object probably worn on the arm, was an innovation of Erlitou elites made to serve a ritual purpose. They combined an existing technique from the lower Yellow River region of producing neatly trimmed turquoise inlay with a tradition from the Hami Basin region of making attachable bronze plaques of various shapes. Symbolic of a more advanced society, these plaques were transmitted to the Qijia and Sanxingdui societies, indicating the spread of the elite culture of Erlitou society.