Yangshao culture refers to an important Neolithic painted pottery culture in the middle reaches of the Yellow River, which lasted about 5000 BC to 3000 BC (that is, about 7000 to 5000 years ago, lasting about 2000 years) and distributed in the middle reaches of the Yellow River from Gansu to Henan.

Because it was first discovered in Yangshao Village, Mianchi County, Sanmenxia City, Henan Province in 192 1, according to archaeological practice, this culture is called Yangshao culture. It is centered in the south of Shanxi Province in the west of Guanzhong, where tributaries of Weihe River, Fenhe River and Luohe River meet, reaching the Great Wall and Hetao area in the north, northwestern Hubei in the south, eastern Henan in the east, and the border areas of Gansu and Qinghai in the west.

Cultural influence

Yangshao culture has influenced the development of archaeology. Before the discovery of Yangshao culture, there was no archaeology in China, and the discovery of Yangshao culture marked the birth of modern archaeology in China.

Archaeological research mainly relies on the discovery of sites, and the number of Yangshao cultural sites is numerous, far exceeding that of other cultural sites. The excavation and research of Yangshao culture will certainly promote the development of archaeology in China and influence the development of archaeology in the world.