宿白讲座 第十八讲

杰西卡·罗森：黄土高原与石峁遗址对中华文明的贡献

The Contribution of the Loess Plateau and Shimao to China’s Civilization

主讲：杰西卡·罗森 （牛津大学考古系教授，北京大学考古文博学院名誉教授）

Professor Dame Jessica Rawson

主持：沈睿文（北京大学考古文博学院 院长）

时间：2026年6月18日 18:30-20:30

地点：北京大学考古楼A座101

内容提要：

黄土高原北部石峁遗址的发现与系统发掘表明，这座规模宏大的石城标志着中国早期历史进程中的一个关键节点。其兴起与两方面的变革密切相关：一是长江流域及中东部平原农业区早期大型城市聚落体系的衰落（尽管这些地区仍有较小规模的人群延续）；二是牛、羊等家畜横跨欧亚大陆传播到半月形地带北部。与南方湿润河谷的低地环境不同，半干旱的黄土高原丘陵为人类提供了截然不同的发展契机。夯筑黄土是构筑阶梯状台基的理想材料，其不仅可以承托礼仪建筑，也可用于营建深穴大墓。与此同时，玉器、精美陶器、丝织品及礼仪传统的传播网络发生了显著变化，北方地区被纳入其中。更为深远的影响在于，牛、山羊和绵羊等家畜的传入带来了一种全新的生计方式，使人群得以向北扩张。正是依托这些家畜，人类具备了长距离迁徙与交流的能力。它们的到来开启了中国向西通往欧亚腹地的通道，推动了长期的区域间互动，冶金术、新型武器、黄金、马匹以及稍晚出现的战车等随之传入。尽管从河西走廊通往中原的路径并不唯一，但从礼仪建筑以及大墓营建中长期使用的阶梯状夯土台基（用石或砖加固），我们依然能清晰地看出黄土高原及在此兴起的石峁、芦山峁等山顶遗址在这一历史进程中的关键地位。

Abstract:

The discovery and excavation of the site of Shimao, on the northern Loess Plateau, have demonstrated that this massive city marks an important point in China's overall history. Two major changes determined its success: the decline of the earlier large complex urban settlements in the Yangtze River basin and on the eastern and central agricultural plain (with smaller populations surviving in those areas), and the arrival of herded animals, moving across Eurasia and arriving at the northern borders of China’s highlands. Semi-arid high hills of loess offered very different opportunities from those on lower land of the humid river basins of the south. Rammed loess was an ideal material for China’s tiered platforms for ceremonial buildings and for very deep tombs. A dramatic change in the networks spreading jade, fine ceramics, silk and ritual practices across China now included the north. At the same time, the arrival of cattle, sheep and goats from across Eurasia introduced an entirely new form of subsistence, allowing people to expand into the northern regions. Only with herded animals, had people been able to travel across long distances. Their arrival opened the routes for China across Eurasia, leading to long-term expansion and exchanges, bringing metallurgy, new weaponry, gold, and horses, followed by the chariot. There were of course several routes from the Hexi Corridor to the Central Plains. However, we can recognise the primary role of the Loess Plateau, (of Shimao and other major hill sites, such as Lushanmao), from the long-term established use of rammed earth platforms in tiers, protected from erosion by stone or brick, for ceremonial buildings and of very deep tombs.