Breaking News... or Breaking Wind (depending how you perceive it). 
In previous posts, we covered Victor Mair's theory of early Magi in Shang China, perhaps an Proto-Iranian intrusion. I believe Mair's idea can be either supported or nullified by some pottery and a knife from the Majiayao Culture in Gansu, first from 3,300 to 2,500BC and followed by the Banshan Phase, 2,500 t 2,300BC. This puts us back in the Neolithic. However, recent studies have produced European and Western Asian mtDNA in central Mongolia during the Neolithic, so there is the possibility of Afansievo people reaching northern China. I think the artwork speaks for itself.
A Banshan Phase jar with Victor Mair's "magus symbol" neatly painted more than once. Coincidence with Indo- Iranian symbolism?
I don't think so. Another Banshan jar, this time with a swastika on it. This second symbol doubles the coincidence of a possible "Western" intrusion into Neolithic China. There's more.
The earliest bronze knife found in China also comes from the Majiayao Culture, the knife dated from between 2,900 to 2,700BC. Most archaeologists claim bronze technology came from the "west," and these three Majiayao items seem to be telling a story, breaking wind or not.
In previous posts, we covered Victor Mair's theory of early Magi in Shang China, perhaps an Proto-Iranian intrusion. I believe Mair's idea can be either supported or nullified by some pottery and a knife from the Majiayao Culture in Gansu, first from 3,300 to 2,500BC and followed by the Banshan Phase, 2,500 t 2,300BC. This puts us back in the Neolithic. However, recent studies have produced European and Western Asian mtDNA in central Mongolia during the Neolithic, so there is the possibility of Afansievo people reaching northern China. I think the artwork speaks for itself.
A Banshan Phase jar with Victor Mair's "magus symbol" neatly painted more than once. Coincidence with Indo- Iranian symbolism?
I don't think so. Another Banshan jar, this time with a swastika on it. This second symbol doubles the coincidence of a possible "Western" intrusion into Neolithic China. There's more.
The earliest bronze knife found in China also comes from the Majiayao Culture, the knife dated from between 2,900 to 2,700BC. Most archaeologists claim bronze technology came from the "west," and these three Majiayao items seem to be telling a story, breaking wind or not.
Alan J. Campbell
member of Legio III Cyrenaica and the Uncouth Barbarians
Author of:
The Demon's Door Bolt (2011)
Forging the Blade (2012)
"It's good to be king. Even when you're dead!"
Old Yuezhi/Pazyrk proverb
member of Legio III Cyrenaica and the Uncouth Barbarians
Author of:
The Demon's Door Bolt (2011)
Forging the Blade (2012)
"It's good to be king. Even when you're dead!"
Old Yuezhi/Pazyrk proverb
