Neolithic Jade Study Reveals Multiple Ancient Trade Sources in Northeast China
A new scientific study has revealed that Neolithic communities in Northeast China obtained jade from multiple sources, challenging long-held assumptions about prehistoric resource gathering and trade. The findings suggest that ancient craftspeople maintained far more complex exchange networks than previously believed.
The research focuses on jade artifacts recovered from the Houtaomuga archaeological site, one of Northeast China's most important prehistoric settlements. Published in npj Heritage Science, the study confirms that every artifact examined was crafted from nephrite while revealing that the raw material originated from more than one geological source.
Houtaomuga contains some of the earliest known jade artifacts in the region. Until now, however, archaeologists knew little about where the stone originated or how prehistoric communities acquired this highly prized material.Image Credit : Shutterstock
An international team of researchers analyzed six complete jade artifacts and three fragments using a combination of modern scientific techniques, including macroscopic examination, physical property testing, Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, and Raman spectroscopy.
The analyses identified two clearly distinct groups of nephrite.
The first group consists of white to greyish-white jade that ranges from transparent to semi-transparent. These artifacts still preserve naturally weathered outer surfaces, suggesting ancient artisans shaped small naturally occurring stones instead of cutting pieces from larger jade blocks.
The second group includes translucent grey-yellowish green nephrite fragments. Their mineral composition closely matches nephrite deposits found in Xiuyan, a region in northeastern China that has long been recognized as one of the country's most important ancient jade sources.
The white nephrite artifacts, however, tell a different story.
Researchers found that they do not match the known geological characteristics of jade deposits from Xiuyan, Chuncheon in South Korea, or the Baikal region of Russia. This unexpected result suggests prehistoric communities may have obtained the material from an unknown source that has yet to be identified.
The discovery indicates that Neolithic people were using multiple procurement strategies rather than relying on a single source of jade. Different varieties of nephrite may have been selected for specific tools, ornaments, or ceremonial objects depending on their color, texture, and quality.
The findings also point to more sophisticated trade and exchange networks operating across Northeast Asia than previously understood. Rather than obtaining jade locally, prehistoric communities may have exchanged valuable raw materials over considerable distances through regional trade connections.
Researchers believe the study provides an important foundation for future investigations into prehistoric commerce, resource acquisition, and cultural interaction across ancient Northeast Asia.
As additional geological sources are identified and more jade artifacts undergo scientific analysis, archaeologists hope to reconstruct the movement of valuable materials between ancient communities and better understand how these early societies were connected.
The research was carried out by Lu Xueyang, Shi Guanghai, Wang Lixin, Deng Cong, Zhang Xiaochong, Wang Nai, and Liu Wenqing with support from the Houtaomuga excavation team, the Gemmology Laboratory at China University of Geosciences (Beijing), the Mineral Laser Microprobe Analysis Laboratory, and the National Natural Science Foundation of China.