Pottery vessels and alcohol consumption at the late Neolithic Shuanghuaishu site in Central China

Liao, J.W.; Yang, Y.; Gu, W.; Gong, Y.; Sun, B.; Cui, Q.; ... ; Zhang, J. (2025)

Article / Letter to editor

During the late Neolithic, the number of pottery cups unearthed in the Central Plains of China increased, yet their function remained unclear. This study investigates the functions of pottery vessels from the Shuanghuaishu site, dating to the late Yangshao to early Longshan periods (ca. 5200–4500 cal BP), using starch grain, phytolith, fungal, and organic acid analyses. The results suggest that jiandiping were not typical vessels for brewing or consuming alcohol, while the emerging pottery cups were used for drinking alcoholic beverages. Ingredients used in brewing included millets, rice, Job’s tears, Triticeae, tubers, and legumes. The form and function of the cups may have been influenced by the Dawenkou Culture and introduced to support feasting and ritual activities. These findings reveal a significant phase in drinking practices in the Central Plains around 5000 BP, reflecting both intensified regional interaction and growing ritual needs of complex societies during the late Neolithic.

• All authors: Liao, J.W.; Yang, Y.; Gu, W.; Gong, Y.; Sun, B.; Cui, Q.; Zhou, X.; Zhang, J.
• Date: 2025-07-17
• Journal: npj Heritage Science
• Volume: 13
• DOI: doi:10.1038/s40494-025-01911-8
• Link: https://www.nature.com/articles/s40494-025-01911-8