A Study of Lian Sickles and Dao Knives from the Longshan Culture Site of Liangchengzhen in Southeastern Shandong

Abstract

In this chapter, relying on the results of an experimental archaeology project, the author proposes that the lian sickle and dao knife had crop-specific harvesting functions during the Longshan period occupation of Liangchengzhen. Large-scale excavations at Liangchengzhen were conducted by a cooperative team involving Shandong University, Yale University, and The Field Museum from 1998 to 2001. The screening and flotation strategies had a significant, positive impact on the collected sample of stone tools and production debris. A large proportion of the stone tools and debitage was not recognizable by eye during excavation. The tools were associated with eight major phases of occupation at the site. For the purposes of stone tool analyses, these eight phases were condensed into four phases representing the major periods of house construction. Use-wear analysis conducted on tools from Liangchengzhen indicates that the ancient dao knives and lian sickles were frequently used for harvesting tasks. © 2013 Blackwell Publishing Ltd.