Qijia

Refers to one of the three major phases of the Gansu culture, dating from ca. 2000 to ca. 1600 BCE; it is approximately contemporary with the later phases of the Longshan culture to the east. Qijia, discovered by the Swedish archaeologist Johan Gunnar Andersson in 1923, is named after a site at Qijiaping in Guanghe county in eastern Gansu province; the culture also extended into western Qinghai province and the autonomous regions of Ningxia and Inner Mongolia. Qijia-phase pottery includes grey and red earthenware that is smooth, painted, or corded. Vessel profiles are more angular and forms such as pedestal vessels indicate increased cross-fertilization of traditions throughout China from ca. 2000 BCE. Some copper artifacts have been excavated as well. Burials were furnished with such gifts as bone and stone tools, pottery vessels, ornaments, and oracle bones.