Late stone age of the middle stream of the Yangtze river depicted in scientific publications in China

In this article, the author raises the most disputable questions of late Stone Age of the middle stream Yangtze River of the last thirty years. Large scale excavations began in the 1950s, the results permitting to allocate two late Neolithic cultures - Daxi (4,400-3,000 B.C.) and Qujialing (3,000- 2,700 B.C.). Further investigations showed that the upper layer of Qinglongquan site was totally different from the earlier materials of Qujialing culture. The fact helped to distinguish the latest Neolithic culture, Shijiahe (2,600-2,000 years BC). The Chinese researchers mainly focus on problems of cultural continuity of Daxi and Qujialing cultures, distinguishing their areas and local variants. Main subject for discussion is the differences in archaeological traditions of Daxi and Qujialing cultures. The similarity of materials can be related either to cultural continuity or only to the geographical proximity of cultural areas. On later stages, Daxi culture had absorbed the traditions of eastern culture Youziling (or this could be a local type of Daxi culture, Youziling), that subsequently led to formation of Qujialing culture. It is worth noting that there is still no consensus on the chronological boundary between Daxi and Qujialing cultures. The questions of chronological division also remain discussable. The materials of Guangmiaoshan site usually taken for building a chronology of Daxi culture, were the base for allocating three of four (or five) chronological stages, depending on considering the early black ceramics without any tempers as a part of Daxi culture or not. However, some sites (for example, the northern Hunan, the eastern territories of Hanshui River) do not always fit into these allocated stages. The area of Daxi culture includes western Hubei and Hunan provinces, eastern Sichuan province. At present, Qujialing culture can be divided into two periods - early and late. The area of Qujialing culture includes the eastern territories of Hanshui River, the western Hubei province, Dongting Lake, the northwestern Hunan province. Besides, during the last ten years the Neolithic objects of Sanxia (or Three Gorges) region have been widely investigated, so the expansion of Qujialing culture area is obvious. The last stage of later culture, Shijiahe, demonstrates significant technological leap and is absolutely dissimilar to earlier stages, related to Qujialing culture. It is probably due to the stronger influence of Middle Yellow River cultures.