Williams, CrispinSun, Mao2018-01-302018-01-302017-05-312017http://dissertations.umi.com/ku:15356https://hdl.handle.net/1808/25829This 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.105 pagesenCopyright held by the author.ArchaeologyErlitou CultureOrigin and TransmissionTurquoise-inlaid Bronze PlaquesThesisopenAccess