Home Region: North China (East Asia)

Longshan

3000 BCE 1900 BCE

D G SC WF R

EQ 2020 cn_longshan / CnLngsh

Preceding Entity: Add one more here.

5000 BCE 3000 BCE Yangshao (cn_yangshao) [continuity]

Succeeding Entity: Add one more here.

1850 BCE 1600 BCE Erlitou (cn_erlitou) [continuity]

General Description

Longshan culture (Chalcolithic China, Jade Age, Lungshanoid horizon) evolved from the Yangshao culture in the Lower Yellow River Valley and the Majiabang culture in the Lower Yangzi River Valley. ^[1] It is characterized by the presence of dark grey and black polished pottery. ^[1] The culture was named after Mount Long in Shandong ^[2] , and major sites have been uncovered in modern Shaanxi, Shanxi, Henan, Hebei, Hubei, and Shandong. ^[1]
Longshan people used ground stone and chipped stone tools used for agriculture and carving. ^[1] Millet was the main agricultural staple, and evidence of domesticated rice was found in more than on site. ^[3] Settlements feature circular ground-level homes with wattle and daub walls, and large square homes built on platforms. Hang-tu earth walls and adobe bricks were also used in settlement construction. ^[1]
Longshan culture was the precursor of the Zhou dynasty in Shaanxi, the state of Qi in Shandong, and Yue and Wu in the Yangzi River Delta. ^[2]
Population and political organization
There is evidence that the Longshan people lived in hierarchical societies. Symbolic jade and other prestige goods including thin walled stemmed cups have been found in elite Longshan burials. ^[1] Lineages or ranked patronages may have been important in Longshan society, and walled towns with surrounding villages could have been chiefdoms. ^[3] Scholars believe that violent conflicts increased during the Longshan period, which could be a sign of competition for power. ^[4] More research is necessary to estimate the population of Longshan sites. ^[5]

[1]: (Underhill 2001, 156) Underhill, Anne. 2001. “Longshan.” In East Asia and Oceania (Encyclopedia of Prehistory, Volume 3), edited by Peter Peregrine and Melvin Ember. New York: Kluwer Academic/Plenum Publishers. 156-159. Seshat URL: https://www.zotero.org/groups/1051264/seshat_databank/items/itemKey/BUI9EC3T

[2]: (Perkins 1999, 295) Perkins, Dorothy. 1999. Encyclopedia of China: History and Culture. New York: Routledge. Seshat URL: https://www.zotero.org/groups/1051264/seshat_databank/items/itemKey/UXEGQFPU.

[3]: (Underhill 2001, 158) Underhill, Anne. 2001. “Longshan.” In East Asia and Oceania (Encyclopedia of Prehistory, Volume 3), edited by Peter Peregrine and Melvin Ember. New York: Kluwer Academic/Plenum Publishers. 156-159. Seshat URL: https://www.zotero.org/groups/1051264/seshat_databank/items/itemKey/BUI9EC3T

[4]: (Underhill 2001, 159) Underhill, Anne. 2001. “Longshan.” In East Asia and Oceania (Encyclopedia of Prehistory, Volume 3), edited by Peter Peregrine and Melvin Ember. New York: Kluwer Academic/Plenum Publishers. 156-159. Seshat URL: https://www.zotero.org/groups/1051264/seshat_databank/items/itemKey/BUI9EC3T

[5]: (Underhill 2001, 157) Underhill, Anne. 2001. “Longshan.” In East Asia and Oceania (Encyclopedia of Prehistory, Volume 3), edited by Peter Peregrine and Melvin Ember. New York: Kluwer Academic/Plenum Publishers. 156-159. Seshat URL: https://www.zotero.org/groups/1051264/seshat_databank/items/itemKey/BUI9EC3T

General Variables

Identity and Location

1 Utm Zone

1 Original Name

1 Capital

4 Alternative Name

Temporal Bounds

1 Duration

Political and Cultural Relations

1 Supracultural Entity

1 Succeeding Entity

1 Relationship to preceding Entity

2 Polity Succession

1 Degree of Centralization

Language

1 Linguistic Family

Religion

Social Complexity Variables

Social Scale

2 Population of the Largest Settlement

1 Polity Territory

1 Polity Population

Hierarchical Complexity

1 Settlement Hierarchy

1 Religious Level

1 Military Level

1 Administrative Level

Professions

1 Professional Soldier

1 Professional Priesthood

1 Professional Military Officer

Bureaucracy Characteristics

1 Specialized Government Building

1 Merit Promotion

1 Full Time Bureaucrat

1 Examination System

Law

1 Professional Lawyer

1 Judge

1 Formal Legal Code

1 Court

Specialized Buildings: polity owned

1 Irrigation System

1 Food Storage Site

1 Drinking Water Supply System

Transport Infrastructure

1 Road

1 Canal

Special-purpose Sites

1 Mines or Quarry

Information / Writing System

1 Written Record

1 Script

1 Phonetic Alphabetic Writing

1 Nonwritten Record

1 Non Phonetic Writing

1 Mnemonic Device

Information / Kinds of Written Documents

1 Scientific Literature

1 Sacred Text

1 Religious Literature

1 Practical Literature

1 Philosophy

1 Lists Tables and Classification

1 History

1 Fiction

1 Calendar

Information / Money

1 Token

1 Precious Metal

1 Paper Currency

1 Indigenous Coin

1 Foreign Coin

1 Article

1 Store Of Wealth

1 Debt And Credit Structure

Information / Postal System

1 Postal Station

1 General Postal Service

1 Courier

Information / Measurement System

1 Weight Measurement System

1 Volume Measurement System

1 Area Measurement System

Warfare Variables (Military Technologies)

Fortifications

1 Wooden Palisade

1 Stone Walls Non Mortared

1 Stone Walls Mortared

1 Settlements in a Defensive Position

1 Modern Fortification

1 Moat

1 Fortified Camp

1 Earth Rampart

1 Ditch

1 Complex Fortification

1 Long Wall

Military use of Metals

1 Steel

1 Iron

1 Copper

1 Bronze

Projectiles

1 Tension Siege Engine

1 Sling Siege Engine

1 Sling

1 Self Bow

1 Javelin

1 Handheld Firearm

1 Gunpowder Siege Artillery

1 Crossbow

1 Composite Bow

1 Atlatl

Handheld weapons

1 War Club

1 Sword

1 Spear

1 Polearm

1 Dagger

1 Battle Axe

Animals used in warfare

1 Horse

1 Elephant

1 Donkey

1 Dog

1 Camel

Armor

1 Wood Bark Etc

1 Shield

1 Scaled Armor

1 Plate Armor

1 Limb Protection

1 Leather Cloth

1 Laminar Armor

1 Helmet

1 Chainmail

1 Breastplate

Naval technology

1 Specialized Military Vessel

1 Small Vessels Canoes Etc

1 Merchant Ships Pressed Into Service

Economy Variables (Luxury Goods) Coding in Progress.

Religion Variables Coding in Progress.

Crisis Consequence Cases Coding in Progress.

Power Transitions Coding in Progress.

Instability Events Coding in Progress.

NGA Settlements:

Year Range	Longshan (cn_longshan) was in:
(3000 BCE 1900 BCE)	Middle Yellow River Valley

Home NGA: Middle Yellow River Valley

General Variables

Identity and Location Longshan (cn_longshan)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Utm Zone	50 S	3000 BCE 1900 BCE
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Original Name	Longshan	3000 BCE 1900 BCE
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Capital	Taosi	3000 BCE 1900 BCE
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Alternative Name	Lungshan	3000 BCE 1900 BCE
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Alternative Name	Chalcolithic China	3000 BCE 1900 BCE
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Alternative Name	Jade Age	3000 BCE 1900 BCE
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Alternative Name	Lungshanoid horizon	3000 BCE 1900 BCE
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Temporal Bounds Longshan (cn_longshan)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)	See More
Duration	[3000 BCE ➜ 1900 BCE]
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Political and Cultural Relations Longshan (cn_longshan)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Supracultural Entity	uncoded Undecided	3000 BCE 1900 BCE
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Succeeding Entity	Erlitou	3000 BCE 1900 BCE
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Relationship to Preceding Entity	continuity	3000 BCE 1900 BCE
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Preceding Entity 5000 BCE 3000 BCE	Yangshao (cn_yangshao) [continuity]
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Succeeding Entity 1850 BCE 1600 BCE	Erlitou (cn_erlitou) [continuity]
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Degree of Centralization	quasi-polity	3000 BCE 1900 BCE
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Language Longshan (cn_longshan)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Linguistic Family	NO_VALUE_ON_WIKI	3000 BCE 1900 BCE
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Religion Longshan (cn_longshan)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)	See More

Social Complexity Variables

Social Scale Longshan (cn_longshan)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Population of the Largest Settlement	[5,000 to 20,000] people	3000 BCE 2601 BCE
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Population of the Largest Settlement	[14,000 to 56,000] people	2600 BCE 1900 BCE
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Polity Territory	[1,500 to 2,000] km²	3000 BCE 1900 BCE
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Polity Population	- Undecided	3000 BCE 1900 BCE
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Hierarchical Complexity Longshan (cn_longshan)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Settlement Hierarchy	[3 to 4]	3000 BCE 1900 BCE
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Religious Level	- Suspected	3000 BCE 1900 BCE
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Military Level	- Undecided	3000 BCE 1900 BCE
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Administrative Level	[3 to 4]	3000 BCE 1900 BCE
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Professions Longshan (cn_longshan)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Professional Soldier	Unknown Suspected	3000 BCE 1900 BCE
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Professional Priesthood	Unknown Suspected	3000 BCE 1900 BCE
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Professional Military Officer	Unknown Suspected	3000 BCE 1900 BCE
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Bureaucracy Characteristics Longshan (cn_longshan)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Specialized Government Building	Uncoded Undecided	3000 BCE 1900 BCE
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Merit Promotion	Uncoded Undecided	3000 BCE 1900 BCE
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Full Time Bureaucrat	Unknown Suspected	3000 BCE 1900 BCE
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Examination System	Absent	3000 BCE 1900 BCE
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Law Longshan (cn_longshan)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Professional Lawyer	Absent Inferred	3000 BCE 1900 BCE
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Judge	Absent Inferred	3000 BCE 1900 BCE
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Formal Legal Code	Unknown Suspected	3000 BCE 1900 BCE
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Court	Absent Inferred	3000 BCE 1900 BCE
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Specialized Buildings: polity owned Longshan (cn_longshan)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Irrigation System	Uncoded Undecided	3000 BCE 1900 BCE
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Food Storage Site	Present Inferred	3000 BCE 1900 BCE
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Drinking Water Supply System	Absent Inferred	3000 BCE 1900 BCE
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Transport Infrastructure Longshan (cn_longshan)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Road	Present Inferred	3000 BCE 1900 BCE
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Canal	Present Inferred	3000 BCE 1900 BCE
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Special-purpose Sites Longshan (cn_longshan)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Mines or Quarry	Present	3000 BCE 1900 BCE
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Information / Writing System Longshan (cn_longshan)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Written Record	Absent Inferred	3000 BCE 1900 BCE
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Script	Present Inferred	3000 BCE 1900 BCE
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Phonetic Alphabetic Writing	Uncoded Undecided	3000 BCE 1900 BCE
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Nonwritten Record	Present Inferred	3000 BCE 1900 BCE
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Non Phonetic Writing	Uncoded Undecided	3000 BCE 1900 BCE
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Mnemonic Device	Uncoded Undecided	3000 BCE 1900 BCE
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Information / Kinds of Written Documents Longshan (cn_longshan)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Scientific Literature	Uncoded Undecided	3000 BCE 1900 BCE
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Sacred Text	Uncoded Undecided	3000 BCE 1900 BCE
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Religious Literature	Uncoded Undecided	3000 BCE 1900 BCE
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Practical Literature	Uncoded Undecided	3000 BCE 1900 BCE
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Philosophy	Uncoded Undecided	3000 BCE 1900 BCE
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Lists Tables and Classification	Uncoded Undecided	3000 BCE 1900 BCE
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History	Uncoded Undecided	3000 BCE 1900 BCE
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Fiction	Uncoded Undecided	3000 BCE 1900 BCE
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Calendar	Uncoded Undecided	3000 BCE 1900 BCE
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Information / Money Longshan (cn_longshan)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Token	Present Inferred	3000 BCE 1900 BCE
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Precious Metal	Present Inferred	3000 BCE 1900 BCE
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Paper Currency	Absent	3000 BCE 1900 BCE
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Indigenous Coin	Absent	3000 BCE 1900 BCE
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Foreign Coin	Absent	3000 BCE 1900 BCE
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Article	Uncoded Undecided	3000 BCE 1900 BCE
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Store Of Wealth	Uncoded Undecided	3000 BCE 1900 BCE
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Debt And Credit Structure	Uncoded Undecided	3000 BCE 1900 BCE
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Information / Postal System Longshan (cn_longshan)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Postal Station	Absent Inferred	3000 BCE 1900 BCE
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General Postal Service	Absent Inferred	3000 BCE 1900 BCE
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Courier	Present Inferred	3000 BCE 1900 BCE
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Information / Measurement System Longshan (cn_longshan)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Weight Measurement System	Uncoded Undecided	3000 BCE 1900 BCE
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Volume Measurement System	Uncoded Undecided	3000 BCE 1900 BCE
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Area Measurement System	Uncoded Undecided	3000 BCE 1900 BCE
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Warfare Variables (Military Technologies)

Fortifications Longshan (cn_longshan)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Wooden Palisade	Present Inferred	3000 BCE 1900 BCE
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Stone Walls Non Mortared	Absent	3000 BCE 1900 BCE
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Stone Walls Mortared	Absent Inferred	3000 BCE 1900 BCE
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Settlements in a Defensive Position	Unknown Suspected	3000 BCE 1900 BCE
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Modern Fortification	Absent	3000 BCE 1900 BCE
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Moat	Present	3000 BCE 1900 BCE
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Fortified Camp	Absent Inferred	3000 BCE 1900 BCE
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Earth Rampart	Present	3000 BCE 1900 BCE
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Ditch	Present	3000 BCE 1900 BCE
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Complex Fortification	Present	3000 BCE 1900 BCE
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Long Wall	absent	3000 BCE 1900 BCE
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Military use of Metals Longshan (cn_longshan)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Steel	Absent	3000 BCE 1900 BCE
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Iron	Absent	3000 BCE 1900 BCE
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Copper	Present	3000 BCE 1900 BCE
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Bronze	Present	3000 BCE 1900 BCE
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Projectiles Longshan (cn_longshan)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Tension Siege Engine	Absent	3000 BCE 1900 BCE
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Sling Siege Engine	Absent	3000 BCE 1900 BCE
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Sling	Present Inferred	3000 BCE 1900 BCE
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Self Bow	Present Inferred	3000 BCE 1900 BCE
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Javelin	Present Inferred	3000 BCE 1900 BCE
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Handheld Firearm	Absent	3000 BCE 1900 BCE
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Gunpowder Siege Artillery	Absent	3000 BCE 1900 BCE
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Crossbow	Absent	3000 BCE 1900 BCE
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Composite Bow	Absent	3000 BCE 1900 BCE
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Atlatl	Absent Inferred	3000 BCE 1900 BCE
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Handheld weapons Longshan (cn_longshan)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
War Club	Unknown Suspected	3000 BCE 1900 BCE
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Sword	Absent Inferred	3000 BCE 1900 BCE
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Spear	Absent Inferred	3000 BCE 1900 BCE
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Polearm	Absent Inferred	3000 BCE 1900 BCE
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Dagger	Unknown Suspected	3000 BCE 1900 BCE
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Battle Axe	Present Inferred	3000 BCE 1900 BCE
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Animals used in warfare Longshan (cn_longshan)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Horse	Absent	3000 BCE 1900 BCE
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Elephant	Absent	3000 BCE 1900 BCE
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Donkey	Present	3000 BCE 1900 BCE
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Dog	Absent Inferred	3000 BCE 1900 BCE
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Camel	Absent	3000 BCE 1900 BCE
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Armor Longshan (cn_longshan)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Wood Bark Etc	Unknown Suspected	3000 BCE 1900 BCE
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Shield	Absent Inferred	3000 BCE 1900 BCE
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Scaled Armor	Absent	3000 BCE 1900 BCE
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Plate Armor	Absent	3000 BCE 1900 BCE
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Limb Protection	Absent	3000 BCE 1900 BCE
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Leather Cloth	Unknown Suspected	3000 BCE 1900 BCE
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Laminar Armor	Absent	3000 BCE 1900 BCE
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Helmet	Absent Inferred	3000 BCE 1900 BCE
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Chainmail	Absent	3000 BCE 1900 BCE
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Breastplate	Absent	3000 BCE 1900 BCE
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Naval technology Longshan (cn_longshan)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Specialized Military Vessel	Absent	3000 BCE 1900 BCE
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Small Vessels Canoes Etc	Absent	3000 BCE 1900 BCE
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Merchant Ships Pressed Into Service	Absent	3000 BCE 1900 BCE
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Economy Variables (Luxury Goods)

Religion Variables

Moralizing Supernatural Punishment and Reward Longshan (cn_longshan)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Moralizing Enforcement is Broad	Absent Inferred	3000 BCE 1900 BCE
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Moralizing Supernatural Concern is Primary	Absent Inferred	3000 BCE 1900 BCE
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Moralizing Enforcement is Agentic	Absent Inferred	3000 BCE 1900 BCE
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Moralizing Enforcement in This Life	Absent Inferred	3000 BCE 1900 BCE
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Moralizing Supernatural Punishment And Reward	Absent Inferred	3000 BCE 1900 BCE
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Moralizing Religion Adopted by Commoners	Absent Inferred	3000 BCE 1900 BCE
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Moralizing Enforcement is Targeted	Absent Inferred	3000 BCE 1900 BCE
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Moralizing Enforcement in Afterlife	Absent Inferred	3000 BCE 1900 BCE
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Moralizing Religion Adopted by Elites	Absent Inferred	3000 BCE 1900 BCE
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Moralizing Enforcement of Rulers	Absent Inferred	3000 BCE 1900 BCE
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Moralizing Enforcement is Certain	Absent Inferred	3000 BCE 1900 BCE
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Human Sacrifice Longshan (cn_longshan)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)	See More