This tall, flared-necked, flat-bottomed jar features double handles and is decorated with painted patterns on its reddish earthenware body.About one-third of Majiayao vessels were decorated on the upper two-thirds of the body with a variety of designs in black pigment. Painted wares such as this example was probably intended for ritual use.A painted pottery culture developed in the 5th millennium in the northwest areas of China, partly from the Wei valley and Banpo traditions. This was then succeeded by a variety of Majiayao cultures (late 4th to early 3rd millennium) in eastern Gansu, eastern Qinghai, and northern Sichuan. The Yangshao Neolithic culture was the longest lasting and most widely dispersed Chinese Neolithic culture. The earliest phase of the Yangshao culture is known as the Majiayao.
