Prehistoric red pottery cup with black patterns

This pottery cup of the Dawenkou Culture in the Neolithic Age is decorated with two groups of patterns in black. In every group, intersecting lines, dots and triangles constitute a petal-shaped pattern against the red background. The lines vividly portray our ancestors’ pursuit of beauty.

Dawenkou Culture was nurtured by the ancient river Wenhe, the only tributary of the YellowRiver within the boundary of Shandong province. It boasts a splendid painted pottery culture, and is one of the most brilliant prehistoric civilizations in the Yellow River basin.

As a national first-class cultural relic, this treasure is in the permanent collection of the Jining Museum in Shandong province.