Research on Animal-style Caprine Petroglyphs in the Northern China Steppe

Abstract

The animal-style caprine petroglyphs in the Northern China Steppe is a typical representative of animal petroglyphs in the Northern China Steppe during the Bronze Age to the early Iron Age. The characteristics and transmission processes of these animal-style caprine petroglyphs are closely related to the animal-style caprine-decorated metal artifacts found in the Northern China Steppe. Specifically, roughly from the late Western Zhou Dynasty to the early-to-middle Spring and Autumn Period (9th–7th centuries BCE), the inhabitants of the eastern Northern China Steppe already created animal-style caprine-decorated metal artifacts and animal-style caprine petroglyphs. From the mid-to-late Spring and Autumn Period to the Han and Jin dynasties (7th century BCE–early 5th century CE), archaeological cultures possessing the technology to produce animal-style caprine-decorated metal artifacts spread widely across the Northern China Steppe. Animal-style caprine-decorated metal artifacts and animal-style caprine petroglyphs became widespread in the Northern China Steppe. After the Han and Jin dynasties, with the decline of the bronze to early iron age animal-style caprine-decorated metal artifacts traditions in the Northern China Steppe, animal-style caprine-decorated metal artifacts and animal-style caprine petroglyphs gradually declined in the Northern China Steppe.